By Beatriz Trevisan de Jesus, Contributor Writer
Veganism is not only a diet but also a lifestyle that has been a trend in the last few years.
The Vegan Society defines veganism as a lifestyle that seeks to live with no animal cruelty. This means that veganism is much bigger than only a diet; it is a philosophy that excludes animal-derived food, clothes, and accessories. It also repulses any product that was animal tested.
“I think it is a good lifestyle, in the sense that you can live healthily,” said Amel Salman, a freshman majoring in biomed. “It is good for the planet,” she continued, and indeed it is, since vegans fight against any kind of animal cruelty.
Celebrities such as Liam Hemsworth and Ariana Grande have already adopted this healthy way of living. Other famous people like Beyonce and Jay-Z, after seeing this new trend, have tried to adhere to it; however, they could only live this way for more than a month.
This lifestyle is indeed amazing. After all, who enjoys abusing innocent animals? Nevertheless, it is hard to follow since people are surrounded by products that do not go with this philosophy.
The popularity of these animal-related foods and products, and their frequency in people’s lives, is what makes the veganism philosophy so hard to follow, but it is not impossible.
Freeing animals from abuse is not the only benefit of veganism. According to a survey from Rush University System for Health, when practiced correctly, vegan diets can improve humans’ health by decreasing cancer risks, diabetes type 2, boosting heart health in diverse ways, and lowering cholesterol.
Nonetheless, if not adequately planned and followed, a vegan diet can lead humans to several consequences.
In accordance with a study from Everyday Health, anemia, which can be caused by iron deficiency, is one of the most common problems of an unplanned vegan diet. Since iron is mostly found in meat, poultry, and fish, vegan diets must be extremely professional and complete to replace iron from animal meat with iron from vegetables.
Another way of becoming anemic is failing to ingest the amount of vitamin B12 that human red blood cells need. In nature, this vitamin is only found in meat and animal products, and that is why vegans must be seriously aware of its replacement.
So, is it worth it to become vegan?
If you are looking for a change of habits, want to help with animal cruelty-free causes, and better health, adopting the philosophy and lifestyle of veganism is a great option for you. But to do so, it is important to adequately plan your diet to make sure you are getting all the nutrients that your body needs.
Veganism is an incredible lifestyle, and it is worth it when practiced correctly.
