More Than Just A Diet, Veganism Is A Lifestyle

Isn’t ‘diet’ the first thing that comes to mind whenever someone speaks of “veganism”. In other words, we only tend to think of veganism in terms of food. But little do we realize that it is indeed a way of life, it is not only a portion of food, however, but it is also a lifestyle. For those who ardently follow it, it is also a way of being. It is a whole lifestyle that covers everything, right from clothes to cosmetics, and is not simply confined to having just the vegetables, nuts, legumes, etc.
As put by the Vegan Society, it is a “way of living which seeks to exclude- as far as is possible and practicable -all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of human, animals and the environment.”

Veganism is now transitioning into a movement and gaining traction. It is slowly breaking through the barriers by penetrating into middle-class households. However, there are too many myths surrounding veganism as a lifestyle. While some believe it is an expensive way to live by, others are of the opinion that the ingredients for a vegan diet are too hard to find! Others question how to derive protein if one cannot really eat meat.
But little do people realize that veganism as a lifestyle has the potential to go a long way in bringing back the taste and experience coupled with health and safety. By adopting a vegan lifestyle, you are helping the environment too. It has been deemed that by eliminating meat and dairy products from your diet, you can reduce the individual’s carbon footprint.
Since meat is a big no, a lot of alternatives are present which can be included in and experimented with your vegan diet. For instance, soya and paneer can work wonders! In the US, people have literally made a replica of beef by means of GMO techniques. Again, a lot of substitutes are ready to give you the same nutritional value.
Veganism plays a significant role in doing good to nature. It reduces harmful emissions. A beautiful example of this is the renunciation of cattle milk which is responsible for most of the emissions on a commodity basis. Again, animal agriculture is also responsible for emitting harmful greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide. Veganism is generally described as living in a way that avoids consuming, using, or exploiting animals as much as realistically
possible. While this gives the opportunity for individual preferences and barriers, the overall intent is that minimal harm is done to animals through life choices. In addition to excluding animal products from their diets, people who label themselves as vegan typically avoid purchasing items that were made from or tested on animals.
Hence adopting veganism as a lifestyle will not only do good to you but also to your surroundings!