Veganism (also known as vegetarianism) is not a new concept, but recently it has received more and more attention.
In fact, online searches for vegan terms have increased by more than 250% in the last 5 years.
In the last few years, some celebrities have become vegetarian, and a large number of vegan products have appeared in stores.
This article explains how vegans are, what they eat and why people choose to eat this way.
What is School Vegetarian?
The term "vegan" was coined in 1944 by a small group of vegetarians who left the Leicester Vegetarian Association to form.
In addition to not eating meat like vegetarians, these people choose not to consume dairy products, eggs or any other product of animal origin.
Therefore, they felt the need to establish a more representative association for their views.
The vegan term (vegan) is chosen by combining the first and last letters of the "vegetarian" word. Vegan was originally defined as "the principle of freeing animals from human exploitation."
In 1979, the Vegan Association became a registered charity and updated that definition.
Veganism is now defined as a lifestyle that eliminates all forms of exploitation and brutality to animals, be it from food, clothing or any other purpose.
Summary: Fasting is a way to eat and live to remove as much as possible from exploitation and cruelty to animals.
The reason why people decide to eat this way
Vegetarians often choose not to eat animal products for one or more :
Because of morality
A vegan who is ethical strongly believes that all living beings have the right to life and freedom.
Therefore, they resist the end of life of conscious individuals simply to eat their meat, drink milk or wear their skin, especially because of the alternatives available.
People who are vegan because of morality also object which animals may suffer due to the modern livestock industry.
For example, people who are vegan because of moral compassion for many animals must live in captivity or in cages and are rarely released from their womb until slaughter.
Moreover, many vegan people are not afraid to talk about fighting the livestock industry, such as crushing chicks that live in the egg production industry or force geese to eat in the fat foie gras industry.
Ethical vegans demonstrate their opposition by spending money on products that do not contribute to the livestock industry.
Summary: Vegetarians because ethics avoid eating meat and livestock farming products because they believe in the freedom and right to life of animals.
Because of health
Some people choose a vegan diet because of its potential health benefits.
For example, some vegans are concerned about the mechanism by which a whole-plant diet may reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer or premature death .
Others may be encouraged by reports that reducing animal product consumption may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dying from cancer or heart disease .
Some also choose a vegetarian diet to avoid antibiotic-related side effects and hormones used in modern livestock .
Finally, the studies linked the vegetarian diet with body weight reduction and body mass index (BMI). Some people may choose these diets to help reduce body fat .
Summary: Vegetarians avoid meat, eggs and dairy products to improve health, prolong life, lose weight or reduce the risk of disease.
For the environment
One can also choose to avoid eating meat and other animal products due to the environmental impact of animal husbandry.
The 2010 UN report argues that these products generally require more resources and cause higher greenhouse gas emissions than complete plant choices .
For example, the livestock sector contributes 65% of total nitrogen oxide emissions. It also includes 35-40% of global methane emissions and 9% of global carbon dioxide emissions .
Nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide are considered the three major greenhouse gases related to air pollution and climate change.
Moreover, the livestock industry tends to need more water. It takes 550 and 5,200 gallons of water (1,700 and 19,550 liters) needed to produce 1 pound (0.5 kg) of beef .
This amount is 43 times higher than the amount of water needed to produce the same amount of grain .
Livestock can also lead to deforestation when forest areas are converted into areas for grazing or fruit trees. The destruction of this habitat is said to contribute to the extinction of different animals .
Summary: Some vegans choose to avoid consuming animal products in an effort to reduce the impact on the environment.
What types of vegan diets are there?
There are several vegan groups. The most common types are:
- Eat a vegan diet: This term is often used as a substitute for "vegetarians" and only those who choose to avoid animal products in their diets but continue to use them in other products, such as clothing and cosmetics.
- Vegan vegan pure food: Vegetarianists support a diet rich in pure foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds.
- Vegan vegan processed food: These people mostly eat processed vegetarian food, such as vegetarian meats, chips, vegan frozen meals and vegan desserts like Oreo biscuits and non-milk ice cream.
- Vegan vegan fresh food: are people who eat fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and foods cooked at temperatures below 118 ° F (48 ° C) .
- Vegan vegan low-fat fresh food: Also known as fruit eaters, this group of people restricts high-fat foods like nuts, avocado , coconut and mainly eat fruit. Sometimes they eat other plants with less quantity.
Summary: The main types of vegetarian school include vegetarianism, eating whole foods, eating processed vegetarian foods, eating fresh foods, eating fresh or low-fat foods.
Foods that vegans avoid
Vegetarians avoid all foods of animal origin. Include:
- Meat
- Chicken
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Egg
- Dairy products
- Honey
Furthermore, vegetarians avoid foods that contain any ingredients
Include gelatin, lactic acid, vitamin D3, whey or some by-products of certain animal origin.
Food Can include some beers and wine , cotton marshmallows, wheat jam, certain types of marshmallows and chewing gum.
Summary: Vegetarians avoid eating meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk and honey, as well as any other product that contains ingredients of animal origin.
Food that vegans choose to eat
Avoiding animal products does not mean you have to live on vegetables only tofu.
In fact, many popular dishes are inherently vegetarian or can be adjusted easily.
Some examples include bean burrito, vegetable sandwiches, tomato pizza, smoothies, fried potato pancakes with salsa and guacamole sauce, hummus rolls, sandwiches and pasta noodles.
The appetizer dishes made from meat are generally replaced with meals with the following:
- Bean
- Lentils
- Tofu
- Gluten
- Tempeh
- Nuts
- Seed
Dairy products are often replaced by vegetable milk. Omelette can be replaced by coated tofu, while raw eggs can be replaced with Linseed or chia seeds in different recipes.
Honey can be replaced with vegetable sweeteners, such as molasses , maple honey or malt. In addition, vegetarians tend to consume a variety of whole grains, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables .
Finally, vegetarians can also choose from processed vegetarian products, including vegetarian meats, yogurt, vegan cheese and even vegan versions of desserts that you favorite.
Summary: Vegetarians eat a lot of plant foods, including beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Main message
Vegetarians are people who choose not to consume animal products for ethical, health or environmental reasons - or a combination of all three.
Instead, they eat various plant foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pea's tree , nuts, seeds and processed products from this food.
