Vegan Living

With the passage of Proposition 2 in California, which bans farmers from raising some farmed animals in small cages by 2015, and Sarah Palin's interview in front of turkeys being slaughtered, animal rights have been commanding a bigger role in the mainstream consciousness just in the past few weeks.

As a vegan for three years, animal rights play a role in the decisions I make every day - what I eat for breakfast, the fabric in the purse I carry, the material of the shoes on my feet, even the type of nail polish remover I use. I choose foods and items that do not contain any animal products, including meat, eggs, leather and gelatin. I'm lucky that I live in New York City because I have lots of choices for shopping and restaurants, but no matter where you live there are creative and thrifty ways to help animals, which will also help you and the planet.

Being a vegan requires some self-discipline, but the rewards are worth it. A vegetarian saves about 3,700 gallons of water a day compared to a meat-eater because of how much water farmed animals drink and how much water is used to grow the crops those animals eat. Talk about a good excuse for long showers. Plus, the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the world's greenhouse gases, which is more than transportation. Go ahead and get that hybrid car, but steer it towards a health food store and away from the McDonald's drive thru.

Non-meat eaters don't just help the planet - they also help themselves. In The China Study, the most comprehensive study of nutrition conducted, Dr. T. Colin Campbell found that plant-based diets reduce the risks of heart disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. By going meatless you'll look good and feel even better.

In Vegan Living I'm going to discuss these and other benefits of a meatless diet and also answer the questions people ask me almost daily about my lifestyle, such as how I get enough protein, where I buy shoes and why I don't drink cow's milk. And I'd love to hear any questions you have about living vegan.

Comments

[kathynyc]

I have been vegan for seven years. Vegetarian for fifteen. I grew up in Santa Cruz, a few hours west of the central valley of California where "vineyards, orchards and fields produce 25% of America’s table food!"

It was easy to embrace plant-food. I now live in NYC. I am always shocked when someone scoffs at my diet. I don't understand the cynicism. Studies have shown that a plant-based diet is the healthiest. Asian cultures, who eagerly embrace plant-based meals, soy products and fish, have been shown to have the longest lifespan and vibrant longevity.

But the big question: why? Health is a factor. But that's not what keeps me eating vegan for a lifetime. There are plenty of unhealthy things I do from time to time.

The reason I embrace a vegan lifestyle is my love of animals. I don't like to expand upon that topic. It gets too political. I like to simply say that I love animals too much. Thats just the way I am wired.

I have do not have any negative feelings for meat-eaters, (like my husband enjoyed a Kobe-burger at the Miami Mandarin Hotel on our wedding day). In this country, we are free to choose our diet. Spam, raw oysters, tofu, chocolate, brussel sprouts, pigs-feet, truffles, parsley, or jackfruit. Food can get very political. But for my personal life, I only want to be free to be who I am, and let you be free as well.

[ninascribe]

This column has great promise, but I already see the protest-too-much extremism and rudeness of meat-eaters who consider it their mission in life to be as crass and insulting as possible toward vegans. Many other attempts to hold civilized, respectful discourse on personal vegan choices have degenerated into naked attacks, sarcasm, and vulgarity. Let's hope the moderators know when to step in to prevent this new effort from falling apart.

And yes, I am a lifelong vegan and run an animal rescue group.

[Anjushri]

Thanks for this. I've been vegan for a number of years and it's the best decision I've made in a long long time. I didn't realize the profound effect it would have on me.
Better for my health, for living beings and for global warming ;)

[PhatP]

Going vegan for ethical reasons is the most important action you can take to end the horrible violence inflicted on animals today. The fact that we do not need to eat animals to live a healthy life points out that most people eat animals out of habit and sheer ignorance. With this said one can realize how unnecessary the suffering that is caused by using animals for food and clothing actually is. I stress the word UNNECESSARY.
Veganism reduces animal suffering and death by decreasing demand. Going vegan represents a rejection of violence and oppression as well as treating nonhumans as if they were only products to be consumed and not beings with lives that matter to them.
However, all that said if you add the fact that you will live a longer and healthier life not eating animals than why would you want to be involved with something so dis-tasteful as flesh eating actually is.
Watch the below video on the health aspects and see what the diet of the healthiest people in the world is.

http://news.aol.com/health/article/the-secrets-of-okinawas-elderly/271430

[dhinds]

After being a vegan for three years you are now offering to answer other peoples questions? (Which implies you believe you're an expert).

While I don't usually proselytize, I'll be glad top share what I know to be true with those that are interested:

I haven't eaten meat (or for that matter, processed food) since 1966 and consider the process described here ridiculous. In vitro cultivation would do nothing to make tissues of animal origin less incompatible with the human digestive and circulatory systems. Separating meat from a whole, living organism wouldn't make it any healthier or attractive.

The animals that live the longest do not eat meat and those that do eat it, eat fecal material too!

Are you sure you want to talk about this?

[candyperfumegirl]

Thanks for this, I think that we omnivores can still get a lot out of your message. I only eat meat a couple times a week, and in "small" (un-american) portions. I would rather pay more for ethically raised organic meat and dairy and eat less of it. I also avoid, when possible, animal products in my consumer goods. I think balance and compromise are key, hope we omnivores and vegans can work together!

[PhatP]

Yes Candy.

I think compromise and balance are important. It just matters where you draw your lines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-sRLD1dtBs&feature=related

Please explain to me what ethically raised meat and dairy is when you have 300 million people eating it 3 times a day?
That's about 12 BILLION land animals a year.

Cheers!

[goldrush]

If you do not eat cows their flatulence will destroy the world. Save the planet, eat more red meat.

[pinkindian]

No, how about we stop relentless production of cows and less meat eating. Instead of non-stop impregnation we should just let them be. Maybe then the greenhouse gases could decrease. Save the planet and your heart.

[Vickster]

So what would we do with all those cows if we "just let them be"? Turn them loose? And what if the populations of native animals declined because they are competing for food and shelter with all those "liberated" farm animals? The truth is these farm animals would go extinct if humans no longer relied on them for food and clothing.

[PhatP]

Hey Goldrush,

Maybe if you went vegan your humor might be a bit more clever, mature and possibly amusing. Red meat is obviously clogging your creativity.

[ConfuciusSay-]

Looking forward to your articles.

I abandoned eating meat a year ago, because of ethical reasons. Since then, my weightlifting seems to have had far better results.

[Gaya]

This is great!!!! I have been a veggie for a year now, and i need some encouragement here and there....especially about new dishes ideas, healthy foods and so on.... this will be great!!!

[dc casualty]

Definitely looking forward to your column. The more information out there about veganism the better!

[dixventures]

I've been a vegan for eight years now because I think the waste and cruelty of animal slaughter for food is unnecessary and damages our bodies, our ethics, our society, and our environment. I am not a prosthelytizing vegan, though: like all important decisions, people who decide to become vegan will do so only on their own, but providing incentive and information as you're doing here is the best thing. Live well and happily as a vegan and others will follow.