By Victoria Lutz
Everyone knows about veganism. It’s in the news, on social media, and almost everyone has that one vegan friend. Maybe you believe you could never cut out meat and dairy. I once did. Now I’m that person that won’t shut up about it. How did I end up like this?
I learned that veganism is magical and can change your life. The lifestyle continues to grow in popularity. From meat substitutes that taste like the real thing (the Beyond burger) to plant-based milk (shout out oat milk ily), there are many products on the market that can help ease you into a total diet change. Switching up the way you eat can be challenging, but it is so worth it. Here are just a few of the hundreds of reasons that you should go vegan.
1. Heart Health
Ladies, our heart goes through enough. Between stress from school, weekend shenanigans, and constant disappointment from men, give your heart a break by ditching dairy and meat. According to the CDC, heart disease is the most common cause of death in both men and women in America. Switching to an animal product-free diet can dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease.
Another disease we have to look out for is cancer. There’s no way around it: red meat is linked to cancer. The World Health Organization classified red meat as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same group that asbestos and tobacco are a part of. Give your body and heart a break and go vegan!
2. Your Skin
Feeling frustrated with your skin? Have you splurged on Sephora’s best skincare just to continue getting acne? Eliminating animal products can reduce the acne you experience. And there’s a simple explanation: hormones! We have enough of these. Eating animal products gives you plenty more. Cow’s milk is filled with hormones (it is designed to make a baby cow grow as fast as possible), as is processed meats. Save your skin the trouble and ditch dairy!
3. Energy and Weight
Around a year ago, I stopped eating meat. Without trying to, I have lost 10 pounds since then. I cut out dairy this year, and so far have noticed I feel less bloated and have significantly more energy. Everyone’s body is different, but dairy and meat slowed me down and kept me from feeling my best.
Plants are true homies and are packed with so many nutrients your body needs. If you feel like you’re in a health rut, whether it be with your weight or your energy levels, try switching to a balanced vegan diet. You won’t regret it.
4. The Environment
It’s easy to refuse a plastic straw at a restaurant and feel good about helping the environment. But I’m here to break it to you – that is not enough. It’s great to reduce your plastic use, but if you really want to help animals, stop eating them.
Animal agriculture has a devastating impact on the environment, causing a number of problems like deforestation and methane production. The truth is you cannot call yourself an environmentalist or animal lover if you are not vegan. Cutting out meat and dairy is the best way to help the planet on an individual level.
5. Karma
What goes around comes around. You get what you give. Karma. However you say it, many people believe that what you put into this world reflects what you get out of it. I personally believe in karma, so it’s easier to rest my head at night knowing I am not paying for an innocent creature’s misery and murder. We are all connected and alive on this planet together. Animals want to live just as much as we do. We should respect their right to life, not exploit them for our own gain.
If you are interested in veganism for whatever reason, I encourage you to do more research. It has changed my life for the better, and can do the same for you! Love yourself and the earth and go vegan!
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