| Depending on one's level of commitment this | | | | proteins has been linked to heart disease, |
| can include not using certain medicines | | | | colon and lung cancer, osteoporosis, |
| because they are tested for safety on | | | | diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, |
| animals. A Vegan will not buy or use animal | | | | obesity, and a number of other debilitating |
| products whether that's a steak, an egg, | | | | conditions. Cows' milk contains ideal amounts |
| bread with milk in it or leather shoes. The | | | | of fat and protein for young calves, but far |
| overall goal of veganism is to reduce animal | | | | too much for humans. According to Gill |
| suffering, environmental damage, hunger in | | | | Langley, a Ph.D. in biology and author of |
| the developing world and risks to our own | | | | Vegan Nutrition, "it is clear from the |
| health. Veganism takes all those advantages | | | | example of many thousands of vegans worldwide |
| just a little further. For very many people | | | | that a varied plant-based diet not only |
| concerned about any or all of these problems, | | | | supports health and well-being but, |
| it seems the natural step to take from | | | | additionally, can have positive health |
| vegetarianism. | | | | benefits" (Langley 1995). A vegan diet is |
| | | | protective against such major killers as |
| Why do people choose to become Vegan? | | | | heart disease and cancer. |
| | | | |
| Animal Welfare - Despite the common belief | | | | Eating fewer animal products is a good choice |
| that drinking milk or eating eggs does not | | | | for the environment and your conscious. |
| kill animals, commercially raised dairy cows | | | | Animal agriculture produces surprisingly |
| and egg-laying chickens, whether | | | | large amounts of air and water pollution, and |
| factory-farmed or 'free range,' are | | | | causes 80 percent of the world's annual |
| slaughtered when their production rates | | | | deforestation. It also requires large amounts |
| decline, not to mention the appalling | | | | of water, and livestock worldwide consumes |
| conditions to which they are kept. There is | | | | half the world's total grain harvest. |
| an ongoing debate on the finer points of what | | | | |
| constitutes an animal product; The Vegan | | | | How Do I Know it's Vegan? |
| Society and most vegans include insect | | | | |
| products such as honey in their definition as | | | | When shopping, look out for the vegan society |
| well. | | | | logo. It appears on thousands of animal free |
| | | | products that have been registered with The |
| The environment - Animal agriculture takes a | | | | Vegan Society. |
| devastating toll on the earth. It is an | | | | |
| inefficient way of producing food, since feed | | | | You will need to examine the packaging and |
| for farm animals requires land, water, | | | | labelling carefully of all non registered |
| fertilizer, and other resources that could | | | | products to ensure that you avoid animal |
| otherwise have been used directly for | | | | by-products such as gelatin and rennet which |
| producing human food. | | | | can be found in everyday items such as |
| | | | children's sweets. |
| Health - The consumption of animal fats and | | | | |