For animal welfare
Often the primary motivation for anyone choosing a vegan lifestyle, the ethical argument for veganism revolves around animal welfare. Obviously farm animals like cows, lambs and pigs are killed for meat, and dairy cows and laying chickens often live in terrible conditions when kept for their milk or eggs. Avoiding animal products means you can take a stand against animal cruelty and exploitation – and according to PETA, every vegan saves nearly 200 animals per year.
For the environment
The production of meat is not environmentally friendly. According to the CSIRO, around 10 per cent of human-related greenhouse gas emissions in Australia come from farmed ruminants like cattle, sheep and goats. Furthermore, methane (which is produced by cows in their burps and flatulence) heats the atmosphere 86 times more than carbon dioxide.
This means that switching to a vegan diet is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and also help fight climate change. In fact, a 2013 study by Lancaster University found that cutting out meat from an individual’s diet reduces their greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent.
For your health
While it is important to be conscious of your nutrient intake when opting for a plant-based diet, and not fall into the trap of eating too many processed foods, veganism can actually have some great health benefits. A 2015 study showed that those following a vegan diet lost comparatively more weight than those following omnivorous and vegetarian ones. A healthy vegan diet also helps reduce the risk of some serious conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity and diabetes.
Try some of our favourite vegan recipes:
