Is Veganism Worth It?
By: Liliana Gray
Veganism means eliminating every type of animal product from your diet including meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and eggs, but also less conspicuous foods like gelatin, butter, and sometimes honey. Everyone has had the thought of going vegan, but many of us immediately dismiss that idea because we think that being vegan would mean losing every food we love in the world like bacon, ice cream, fried chicken, mac and cheese and pizza.
We tell ourselves that we couldn't live without these things in our lives, but now with our planet´s well-being at risk because of climate change and the recent increase in the number of people who want to live healthfully, meaning having a wholesome diet, veganism is mainstreaming. The question on my mind is, is becoming vegan really as appealing for the planet and humans as it´s thought out to be and if so, how can we change our lifestyle to accommodate veganism?
Veganism has taken over the world in the past decade. There are now 1.6 million vegans in the united states alone which are around 0.5% of the population. That’s quite an increase compared to the 0.1% of the population identified as vegan 20 years ago.
Pros: Most people chose to be vegan because they want to live a sustainable lifestyle without harming the planet. This is a good thing because it's clear that now more than ever, we need to change our eating habits. Society has become obsessed with meat and high protein, low carbohydrate diets that we oftentimes forget the toll that takes on our planet.
Raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, food, energy, and water. The byproducts of animal agriculture pollute our air and waterways. The average US consumer requires more than 2.5 acres of land each year to sustain their diet. That number decreases dramatically when you reduce meat consumption and add in more vegetables. By becoming vegan we´re reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and immense amounts of resources that go into raising animals. This means that we´re decreasing our carbon footprint which benefits the planet.
Plant-based diets lead to having a long and healthy life. Research has shown that vegans have lower risks of getting heart diseases, certain cancers, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. They also have improved kidney functions, reduced pain from arthritis, and lower cholesterol. Vegan is a highly recommended diet for diabetics because it lowers blood sugar and helps the body get crucial nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Becoming vegan might be the change we need to put humanity back on the right track.
Cons:
People think that becoming vegan is the way to create a better version of themselves and the world, but turning to veganism might not be the right answer. The vegan diet leaves too many resources (land) unused. Eliminating animal products won’t maximize land use because different crops require different types of land for an adequate yield. More often than not, nothing can be cultivated on standard pastureland because the soil doesn't provide the necessary nutrients needed for successful plant growth. Cattle utilize that pastureland and graze it, they make use of what is unusable to agriculture. Veganism isn’t great in the long term because it feeds fewer people than the standard omnivore or even vegetarian diet.
Vegan diets also lack certain essential nutrients that are needed to have a healthy and functioning body. Vegans may be prone to developing deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, calcium, vitamin D, and Omega-3 acids that are found in animal products like eggs, beef, seafood, and milk. Vegan diets are also lower in protein and can cause blood sugar swings. It is common for vegans to gain weight because, without meat that keeps you full, vegans tend to eat more frequently throughout the day, which leads to weight gain.
Lastly being vegan requires a lot of meal preparation and more time in the kitchen than any other diet. The majority of restaurants aren’t vegan-friendly and the few vegan restaurants are very expensive. So this means that if you’re vegan you lose the right to go out and you have to spend a great deal of your free time in the kitchen. On that note, costs can add up quickly if you buy vegan alternatives, like non-dairy cheese and imitation meat products. Therefore veganism can be out of reach to certain people because of its huge price tag.
Conclusion:When weighing the pros and the cons of veganism, we might find ourselves in a dilemma because there are valid reasons on both sides of this argument. But there is a solution that doesn´t put you in the black or white but is more of a grey area. Since both veganism and regular, substantial meat consumption will lead to severe food shortages, a lacto-vegetarian diet (vegetarian that consumes eggs and dairy) may be the most efficient way to maintain sufficient nutrition across the globe in the long run. Reducing our meat consumption is a good start. Trying to eat meat only once a week and slowly backing away from it is more suitable for people globally. Lacto-vegetarianism diets can feed more people, therefore making them more environmentally sustainable. Instead of going cold turkey (!) vegan, there are simpler, more accessible ways to make a positive change for your diet and the environment.
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