Why I Became Vegan and Why You Should Too

When I first knew about veganism, I honestly thought I couldn’t do it because I grew up snacking on cheese and powdered milk whenever they are available.

But after learning the implications of my actions, I realized, going vegan isn’t that hard.

So, why go vegan?  

FEW THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VEGANISM

• A vegan can save 100 animal lives per year.
• Going vegan is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
• A plant-based diet reduces the risk of heart disease.

There are lots of factors but let’s start with the main reason, the ANIMALS.  

VEGAN FOR THE ANIMALS

A few years ago, I saw a lot of videos about animal cruelty and how animals are often raised for food.

The most abominable of them all is the dairy industry.

I will never forget the video of a crying cow because of fear while being transported to a slaughterhouse, and the short documentary about what’s in your milk and how dairy cows spend their lifetime producing milk for humans.

Male calves are usually discarded because they don’t reproduce and it goes the same with male chicks, which are ground alive right after hatching.

I still remember the pain how my dog stares at me before he died in my hands and every time I see pigs, which are smarter than dogs by the way, on their way to the slaughterhouse, I can see the same agony in their eyes.

I reckon animals have a special place in our hearts. If you give an apple and a rabbit to a child, which do you think the child will eat?

Paul McCartney once said,

“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian.” 

I agree.  

Next is the ENVIRONMENT.  

Malapad Beach, Real Quezon VEGAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

As I care so much about animals, I also looked into what’s going on with our planet.

I have watched plenty of documentaries about Veganism, one of them that made a massive impact on me, is Cowspiracy. It is about how animal farming contributes to global warming and other pollution problems.

EFFECTS OF ANIMAL FARMING ON THE ENVIRONMENT

• Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, that’s more than the exhaust from all transportation combined.
• Eating 1 pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce.
• Animal agriculture is the top contributor to Amazon deforestation.
• Overfishing is tearing the ocean apart.

Consuming meat doesn’t just weaken our compassion toward animals, but it also destroys our planet with every single bite.

We’d probably be dead by the time the earth can no longer take us humans, but what about the future generations?

Can we at least slow down the destruction for them?  

And lastly, HEALTH.  

VEGAN FOR HEALTH HEALTH BENEFITS OF A VEGAN DIET

• It can help you maintain your weight.
• It promotes healthy aging.
• It lowers the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

I have learned how whole food plant-based diet can improve health and even eliminate or control some of the world’s deadliest diseases.

As a person who is suffering from asthma, eczema and acne, I considered making the switch immediately. I started by eliminating dairy. This, I believe, is one of the hardest to let go, since it produces casomorphins when digested and therefore addictive. 

Good thing I noticed the effects immediately. I had fewer allergies, zits, and mucus. 

Now my lung condition is at its best state. I used to get hospitalized because of severe asthma attacks and take maintenance medicine twice a day, but now, the attacks are almost non-existent, and I rarely get sick.

Also, it helps lessen my eczema and acne flare-ups. I have considered eating raw and oil-free in hopes of having clear skin, but I couldn’t give up fried foods. 

Raw food plant-based diet is an excellent way to detox. It has been a great help to my grandmother in reversing her heart disease.

She was diagnosed with third-degree (complete) atrioventricular block and advised to undergo angioplasty immediately. We’re all afraid for her, so we took the other route, Naturopathy. 

We went to the famous Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Tam Mateo and my grandmother were prescribed protocols, herbal medicines, and even recipes that are needed to bring her clogged arteries back to their healthy state.

Guess what? The surgery didn’t happen. Thanks to raw garlic!  

There are lots of things we should consider when it comes to nutrition.

Are we eating healthy?

Are we unknowingly consuming something that we shouldn’t?

How about having a long list of fruits and vegetables instead of a list of medicines to buy? 

“Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” 

Hippocrates

We don’t have to sacrifice other living beings, the planet and our health just for our appetite. There are lots of other options available in the market nowadays. Maybe we should opt for the better.  Maybe it’s time for us to check the labels. 

These are the reasons why I became vegan.   

Do you need help in transitioning? Check my blog on how to go vegan, leave a comment below or send a message.

You can also check my easy vegan recipes that you might want to try.

If you want to know more, just click the link to help you get started:  

What factory animals are going through every single day

Facts about how animal agriculture is harmful to the planet

About what you eat