(From pop culture to fashion, celebrity propagation to grocery aisles and beyond — conventional wisdom tells us that going vegan is probably the smartest thing to do right now. Giving up milk, cheese and anything animal derived are just some of the few sacrifices that need to be made, but it’s a lot easier said than done when it comes to actual practice.
Chalk and cheese
Millennials and most of the older Gen Z-ers have grown up on consuming milk, eggs and animal protein on the daily, which then transformed into an adolescent life spent romanticising cheese pizzas and such. To unlearn being able to eat the former can be rather hard which in reality is an absolute necessity. As children we were all told that milk is essential for our overall well-being, little did we know that cows were paying a heavy the price for it. The malpractices of the milk industry have been brought to light by vegans for its unethical ways of artificially inseminating female cows and separating the mother and calf at birth in order to gain sole monopoly over the milk produced. Moreover, male calves and cows, who are of little use to the dairy industry are killed or sent off to be reared for meat. The poultry industry is equally inhumane when it comes to their egg-producing practices. Whether in free-range or caged farms, hens live a rather difficult life as well. Similar to their cow counterparts, male chicks are of no use for egg or meat production, and are killed almost immediately after hatching. This makes it alarmingly evident that farms only exist for the sole purpose of profit.
You are what you eat
Studies and research suggest that adopting veganism can eventually protect against cardiosvascular diseases by reducing obesity and lowering cholesterol. Additionally, vegans end up having a healthier gut on account of all the excess fibre they get from a veggie and whole-grain rich diet. Research suggests that veganism can have health benefits, but only if well planned as it alternatively leads to B12, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies which would have to be substituted with supplements. The lifestyle is quickly being adopted by athletes for its immunity boosting benefits along with aiding recovery and rehabilitation from injury. The anti-inflammatory effect of plant-based foods is also thought to be the reason why vegan diets appear to have improved symptoms of some auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. While maintaining a balance is absolute key, it would seem apparent the with the right approach and preparation, a vegan diet can be good for human health.
Published by: Vibhuti Vazirani/ 2020-03-14