Choosing Vegetarian And Vegan Aspects For A Healthier Lifestyle

 

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Veganism is a kind of consumer boycott: we do not buy products that involve suffering and abuse and whilst some people have deemed it a ‘cult’, when taken out of that context, it can indeed be a great lifestyle choice. Vegans avoid any product that contains animal ingredients, including dairy whilst vegetarians make the choice to cut out meat. Then there are pescetarians, who choose to only eat fish. The choice of becoming vegetarian or vegan doesn’t have to be made as a moralistic choice; it can actually also be used to improve your health; specifically gut health. The even better part of the story is that many vegetarian dishes are actually impressively tasty! Healthy stir fries and salads can be made even more delicious with a premium light soy sauce from Lee Kum Kee. 

Veganism for health

Many people turn to veganism for health reasons as well. According to a long line of studies, vegan diets have the power to offer a lower rate of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and common cancers (including breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer). The main reasons for this are lower rates of obesity and high blood pressure among vegans, and lower levels of LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol), which is found in animal foods. Animal foods also contain residues of chemicals and antibiotics, some of which are used to deal with the diseases typical of industrial farms. Contrary to popular belief, a balanced vegan diet contains all the nutrients your body needs, and when eaten properly, a lack of protein, iron, calcium or vitamins is not expected.

Reducing your carbon footprint 

Another reason to switch to veganism is the fact that the animal food industries are among the most polluting industries on the planet. In fact, a UN report stated that these industries are responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions (more than all vehicles combined!). The animal feed industry is not viable not only because of the pollution it causes but also because of the waste of resources in it. In order to feed the animals, large amounts of land are required for grazing and for growing grains and legumes for fodder. The animal feed industries are responsible for clearing over 70% of the rainforest, which has been replaced by grazing and forage areas. In contrast, growing plant foods provides 10-21 times more protein per unit area than meat. The increase in the earth's population requires a shift to resource-efficient food production methods. So by adopting a different diet, you can also contribute to a healthier world future. 

The selection of vegan products in the marketing chains is expanding, more and more vegan restaurants are opening, and many popular restaurants are adding vegan dishes to the menu to meet the growing demand. Many parents, young and old, go vegan with their children, and it is certainly an avenue to explore but must be done safely, according to dietary requirements and you should also consult your GP to ensure that you are making healthy decisions for your entire family.