1. Veganism: A philosophy and way of living.
Veganismisawidelycontroversial wayof livingthatseekstoexclude the exploitationof animalsfor
food,clothing,testingandentertainment.Veganuaryisaglobal campaignthat launchedinthe UK in
January 2014, to helpencourage people totry becomingveganforJanuary. The campaign raises
awarenessof Veganism.Veganismnotonlyhelpstoreduce the sufferingof animalsand helpsthe
planet,butitalsoimprovespersonal health.Due tothe fact vegans donot eatanimalsor animal
basedproducts,theymustfindthe essential nutrientstheyneedfrom plant-basedsources,vegan
alternativesandfortifiedfoods.
Due to a vegan’s lifestyle of avoidingmeatanddairy,alternativelytheywill eat lotsof fruit,
vegetables,nuts, andpulses.Thismeanstheywillgetplentyof the nutrients they need. However,
vitaminB12 is a vitaminthatcan be hardfor vegansto obtainas itis foundinmeat,fish,dairy,and
eggs.Therefore,veganscanbe more susceptible toB12 deficiency. Althoughb12is addedto
fortifiedfoodssuchasbreakfastcereals,plantmilks, andsoyproducts.A supplementof B12 isvery
important,andpeople must make sure they donotlack it in theirdiet. VitaminB12isan essential
nutrientforour redbloodcells,nerve function,andis vital forDNA synthesisinourcells.
Notonlydo veganstendto be well informedof whattheirbodyneedsandwhattheirfoodcontains,
but animal-basedproductscanhelp topreventthe mostsevere diseasessuchascardiovascular
disease,obesity,type2diabetes,diverticulosisand E.coli infections. A vegandietcan alsobe more
beneficial towomenasPMS symptomsbecome lessintense ordisappearaltogether.Thisisdue to
the eliminationof dairyfromtheirdiet.
Veganismhelpsthe environmentandhelpstostopexcessgreenhousegases.Over70billionland
animalssuchas cows,pigsand chickensare bred, all of whichneedvastamountsof foodandwater,
they emitmethane andothergreenhousegasesandproduce mountainsof physical waste. These
animalsare then farmedandkilledforfoodeveryyear.Thisdoesnotinclude seacreaturesand
otheranimalsbredforfur and skintrades. In2006, the UN calculatedthatthe combinedclimate
change emissionsof animalsbredfortheirmeatwere about18% of the global total – more than
cars, planesandall otherformsof transportput together.
The meat industryhasa bigimpact onthe environmentandhow to use our natural resources.
Agriculture usesabout70 percentof the world’savailable freshwater,andone thirdof thatis used
to grow the grainfedto livestock. Ittakes2500 gallonsof waterfor1 poundof beef.70% of the
World’s grainharvestisfedto livestockwhile the other30% are usedforthe populationof the
entire world. Only50%of grain harvestcouldfeedall the starvingpeopleinthe worldif onlypeople
wouldstopeatingmeat.
