Tell someone you are allergic to dairy, eggs, or meat and they will offer sympathy and recipes to help with your “affliction.” Tell them you are a vegan and their attitude changes. You are now the weirdo who lives on sticks and grass clippings. But becoming a vegan is more than menu options. “Veganism” is a lifestyle that is attracting more and more people from every walk of life.
Reasons for Becoming a Vegan
According to the website Vegan Action one of the reason people become a vegan is compassion for all living creatures. Vegans choose not to consume or exploit animals in any way. This means eating no meat, dairy, eggs or honey; wearing no leather, suede, wool, feathers, or silk and spending no money at pet shops, zoos, circuses, rodeos, aquariums, or anything that uses animals as a form of entertainment. The vegan lifestyle also extends into the health and beauty aisle where labels are scrutinized. Vegans look for labels such as “cruelty free” and “not tested on animals.” Being a vegan also helps the enviroment. The agriculture required to feed the animals that are intended to feed people uses more resources than are necessary.
Health Benefits
The link between health and diet are well-documented. Doctors have been researching the health benefits of Veganism since the early 1990's. Dean Ornish, John McDougall, and Caldwell Esslstyn have been conducting research in the effects of a Vegan or near vegan diet have had on the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The lifespan of Vegans is about 6-10 years longer than that of meat-eaters. Vegans tend to have lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Incidences of cancer and obesity are lower than in non-vegans. Journals such as The Journal of Clinical Nutrition has documented that people who consume meat are more likely to be overweight than those who have a Vegan diet. Food-borne illnesses usually arise from contaminated animal products and so Vegans are less likely to ingest salmonella or E. Coli. Mad Cow Disease crosses into humans through infected beef.
Books
Being a vegan is not as complicated as it sounds. Bookstores have shelf after shelf of books about veganism, usually in the “alternative lifestyle” section. Books such as Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook and Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Terry Hope Romero. A quick flip through these books will reveal to the prospective vegan that a vegan diet will provide them with every vitamin, mineral and nutrient they need.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores are starting to stock Vegan friendly items such as tofu, seitan, and soy ice cream. There are many substitutes for dairy milk, such as soy and rice milks, as well as powdered egg substitutes. Natural food stores have a wider selection of these items as well as the shampoos, makeup, and cleaning products that are animal friendly. These stores often offer classes in a cruelty-free lifestyle. Many restaurants now offer menu items that contain no animal products, and new vegan-friendly eateries are opening in every city. Patrons of upscale coffeehouses can order soymilk in their double-caramel/cinnamon lattes.
Resources
The Internet is a great source for people interested in Veganism. The Post Punk Kitchen site, hosted by the author of three vegan cookbooks, provides recipes, forums, discussions, and links. There are also magazines that provide monthly information on all things vegan. Despite their choice of lifestyle, vegans are no different than anyone else. They need to eat, clothe, and entertain themselves, but they make the choice not to harm animals when doing so.
