Vegan & Plant Based FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the difference between the terms “vegan” and “plant based” and how they’re used here.
The terms “vegan” and “plant based” are used almost interchangeably in this blog because we’re talking about the food here. Many people follow a plant based diet for their own health or cultural reasons. Other people live a vegan lifestyle avoiding all animal products in other areas of life too. Those are different things that you can’t always use either term for. Using the right name at the right time goes a long way to avoid confusion and hurt feelings.
What are the reasons to eat a plant based diet?
There are many health reasons to switch to a plant-based diet. Improved digestion, lowered risk factors for colon cancer and heart disease, and increased energy. Eliminating animal products from your diet is also the best way to lower inflammation. Dairy consumption is the underlying cause of many gastrointestinal problems, eating meat can worsen those problems further. Processed meats have even more additional health risks. Raising animals as livestock on factory farms causes terrible suffering. Their products have also been linked to an increased risk of disease in humans. Many people find their various health issues improve with a switch over to a plant based diet.
Why do people become vegan?
Veganism is a lifestyle that avoids all forms of animal exploitation. Vegans avoid ingesting foods containing any trace of animal products or byproduct such as honey, eggs, and dairy. Vegans also use home products not tested on animals, and don’t wear fur or leather. Vegan diets are not motivated by health alone, but rooted in an active stance for animal liberation and abolition of harm.
Are there any other benefits to a plant based diet or vegan lifestyle?
When looking at the planet’s finite resources, it becomes crystal clear that a plant-based diet or vegan lifestyle is our best option for sustainability. Animal agriculture has proven to be horrendously inefficient and damaging to the environment – depleting not only land and water sources but also releasing excessive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It’s time we shift our dietary habits away from animal products and towards plant-based options if we want to affect meaningful change in climate change, preserve water supplies and protect vulnerable human labor. Plus, there are significant health benefits to choosing a vegan lifestyle, as people are feeling the effects of poor diet-related health complications more than ever before.
A plant-based diet or vegan lifestyle, can be life-changing. We’re looking at an unsustainable future if we don’t make some changes. Consider the facts: animal agriculture is a huge burden on our land and water supplies and has caused an astronomical increase in greenhouse gases emissions. It’s an inefficient way to produce food – growing food for animals, then eating them for food! To protect our planet, we must switch up our diets.
