About Veganism

Intro To Veganism

Merriam-Websters Dictionary defines vegan as a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products. In reality, veganism is not just a matter of food, but a lifestyle choice that has been embraced by as much as 10 percent of American consumers, according to a 2003 Harris Poll. Some of the more famous vegans include a host of athletes, entertainers and legends, including Olympic track star Carl Lewis, comedians Weird Al Yankovic, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Kevin Nealon, and Coretta Scott King, wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Vegan Health Benefits

Why does veganism enjoy such a large and diverse following? For starters, everyone likes to feel healthier and more energetic. Many vegans brag that they have regained the energy of their youth and ditched the daily coffee crutch when they ditched meat. Veganism is also known to boost immune systems and facilitate weight loss. A 12-year Oxford Vegetarian Study of meat and non-meat eaters found that vegetarians are 40 percent less likely to die of cancer, 30 percent less likely to experience heart disease and 20 percent less likely to die prematurely from any other cause.

Vegan Ethical Considerations

Ethical convictions can be another motive for people to choose veganism as a way of life - and for anyone who has tried to maintain the diet while on vacation, it is a way of life. It takes hard work and dedication and a steely resolve to the open-mouthed stares that will inevitably come when you out yourself as a vegetarian. In short, some people just really, really like animals - but not on their plates. There have been a host of powerful documentary films and books on the subject of animal cruelty. It is notoriously rampant in the food service and packaging industries, but has been lessened considerably by public awareness campaigns spearheaded by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in conjunction with high-profile celebrities. Whether your vegetarian curiosity springs from a desire to increase your health, energy, guilt-free sleep at night, or simply an inkling that you might just have a crack at topping PETAs Sexiest Vegetarian list, know that it is a worthwhile pursuit.