VEGANISM 101
Hello, people of the interweb!
So it all started out with this video titled: 'Best speech you will ever hear' by Gary Yourofsky. I remember watching it with a very casual attitude. I didn't think anything could stop me from eating meat, fish and other animal related food. But I was so wrong. It opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn't know before. And it made me more aware of how ruthlessly animals are being treated to serve the humans.
To quote Gary " That Descartes’ Cartesian way of looking at animals, like they’re machines… It is outdated, and quite frankly, 100% insane. Because, if we all understand that animals use their eyes to see, ears to hear, noses to smell, mouths to eat, legs to walk, feathers to fly, fins to swim, genitalia to procreate, bowels to defecate.. I’m always perplexed that most people don’t believe that they can also use their brains to think, feel, be rational, be aware and be self-aware.Am I supposed to believe, that every body part of an animal functions just like it’s supposed to, except the brain? Those lies are thick. The propaganda from the animal abusers is enormous!"
And that speech was what urged me to go vegan and look further into veganism.
So it all started out with this video titled: 'Best speech you will ever hear' by Gary Yourofsky. I remember watching it with a very casual attitude. I didn't think anything could stop me from eating meat, fish and other animal related food. But I was so wrong. It opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn't know before. And it made me more aware of how ruthlessly animals are being treated to serve the humans.
To quote Gary " That Descartes’ Cartesian way of looking at animals, like they’re machines… It is outdated, and quite frankly, 100% insane. Because, if we all understand that animals use their eyes to see, ears to hear, noses to smell, mouths to eat, legs to walk, feathers to fly, fins to swim, genitalia to procreate, bowels to defecate.. I’m always perplexed that most people don’t believe that they can also use their brains to think, feel, be rational, be aware and be self-aware.Am I supposed to believe, that every body part of an animal functions just like it’s supposed to, except the brain? Those lies are thick. The propaganda from the animal abusers is enormous!"
And that speech was what urged me to go vegan and look further into veganism.
So I decided to share my tips on how I went vegan and put all the research that I did about veganism to good use here because I don't see a lot of vegans around me. And a lot of people don't know what veganism is.That being said, let's get started.
A little tip: Veganism at first can seem a little daunting to a lot of people but I promise you it's all worth it in the end.
WHAT IS VEGANISM?
Image source: Google
In a nutshell, It is a way of living where one refuses to eat not only animal related diet but also refuses to use any products that are animal derived. They also don't wear anything that is derived out of animals. For instance, if you use a shampoo which has honey in it and is tested on animals then you need to chuck it out because it is not a vegan shampoo.
WHO ARE VEGANS?
Vegans are people who:
- don't eat meat,fish, chicken and other animal derived food (eggs).
- don't consume dairy products (cheese, milk, etc.) .
- don't use honey for any purpose.
- don't wear animal derived clothes and shoes like leather, fur, silk, wool, etc.
- don't use cosmetics which have animal products in them. ( So that favourite mascara of yours that you love but has animal stuff in it? Yeah. You gotta throw it away! )
- don't use any household supplies that have animal derived ingredients in them and that are tested on animals ( laundry detergent, household cleaner, etc.)
THE HORRENDOUS REALITY OF THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY:
I am going to put few of the links here that shows the harsh reality behind the slaughterhouses. And also how cruel dairy industry is. People need to know how badly animals are treated in the name of "double cheese chicken burger" and "Milk" and "beef burgers". It is heartbreaking to see the fear and torture that these innocent beings go
through. I know a lot of people say "Watch it at your own discretion". But PLEASE DO NOT SKIP THIS PART. PUTTING THE BLINDERS ON WON'T DO ANY GOOD. AND ALSO THIS IS THE BITTER REALITY WHETHER YOU WANT TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
Animals are not treated with kindness because, in the end, all that's going to be left of them are their body parts chopped up into bazillion pieces.
Make sure you check these videos out. They are heartbreaking to watch but this is what the reality is.
Image source: Google
You finished watching the videos? Heartbreaking isn't it?
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
1. Humans are herbivores in reality. Now I know what you're going to say "But hey! We have Canines. What are those for then?". So to know the answer to your question I request you to read this article in depth if you want to know the truth. Here you go: http://michaelbluejay.com/veg/natural.html
It can explain it far better than I ever could.
2. Milk is actually bad for you unlike what the dairy industry wants you to think. Cow's milk is for cow's babies and not you! Don't believe me? Check this out: http://saveourbones.com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/
3. There is no such thing as a "Humane killing method". So stop fooling yourself and the others around you. More on this topic here: http://freefromharm.org/animal-products-and-ethics/12-reasons-why-i-dont-believe-in-humane-slaughter/
4. There is such a thing as "CHEESE ADDICTION". So the reason why you go " I can quit everything but CHEESE. CHEESE is a must have" is because you are basically addicted to it. Here's the truth: http://yumuniverse.com/addiction-to-cheese-is-real-thanks-to-casomorphins/
5. Health risks of eating animals are real. http://wholefed.org/2013/05/02/disadvantages-of-a-meat-based-diet-from-a-to-z/
WHY I DECIDED TO GO VEGAN?
Disclaimer: I am not trying to push "veganism" on anybody. I don't think I am a saint or the best person in this whole wide world. But I want to spread the message around that "animals are not our slaves". They are sentient beings. And they don't deserve this horrific treatment. This is to help people out there who want to go vegan like me. People who want to show care and respect towards animals. That being said,if you don't want to go vegan then you don't have to.
My answer is simple. I decided to go vegan not only because I love all animals (cows, pigs, etc.) and not just cats and dogs but also because it's horrible how animals are treated in slaughterhouses and it's awful how dairy industry works. I was born in a non-vegetarian family. And I loved non-vegetarian food. But it never hit me that animals are not here on this planet to be killed and used by humans for their selfish reasons. Only when I came across that speech on Youtube was when I realised how much harm I was causing to animals. You may not understand the gravity of the situation because it's not you who is being treated that way but it is honestly so inhumane. Apart from ethical and humane reasons, some people also choose to be vegan for health and environmental reasons.
TIPS TO GO VEGAN:
Image source: Google
- Don't try to make an overnight transition. It's not impossible but it's really hard. When I first started to get into veganism, I got really passionate about it and decided to change my 17-year-old lifestyle in a day but failed miserably. So try to take baby steps. Do your homework well. And transition into it slowly and gradually.
- Don't announce to people that you're vegan the very first day itself to avoid scrutiny and questions.
- Pinterest will be your new best friend. Trust me on this one. Just type "vegan recipes" on Pinterest and you'll find bazillion of them. And they are really easy to make too. It not only helps you with food but you can also find a lot of motivation and helpful tips there. You can also follow my Pinterest board "healthy stuff" and recipes" on Pinterest if you want to because I pin all the vegan recipes I make there.
- Don't be mad at your friends and family when they don't get why you want to be vegan. Your family and friends may not understand why you want to go vegan and it's okay. Don't try to belittle them or cut connections with them because they don't want to be vegan. Try to explain it to them. If they get it, good for you and if they don't then well, at least you tried.
- Don't try to belittle others if they don't want to go vegan. I know it can be hard to not judge people when they say they don't want to go vegan when you're really passionate about it and really feel the pain that animals go through. But don't judge. You can sound really annoying and drive them away from going vegan. And now you don't want that, do you? Instead, ask them to have an open mind about it and introduce it to them with a positive approach.
- Always read the ingredients list of food or any other products before buying to make sure they don't have animal related stuff in them. For example, if a bag of chips you are buying has "milk solids" in the ingredients list then it is not vegan.
- Learn to cook. You're going to have to cook a lot for yourself if you're going vegan so I would recommend getting started with it. Because you can't live your whole life eating only salads.
- There are vegan alternatives to a lot of non-vegan products some of them which you can make yourself so make sure to check it out. For example, you can make a vegan cheesy sauce with cauliflower and it tastes just as good. You just need to learn to play around with vegan food.
- Follow vegan communities and groups on Instagram, twitter, facebook etc. It helps you stay motivated and informed.
- Ignore people who think you're weird or a nutcase. You don't have to explain or prove yourself to these people. So the best thing is to IGNORE THEM.
- Don't eat controversial vegan products on a regular basis. Yes, I am talking about soy. Don't use them regularly because they are controversial for a reason plus I'm sure you can find a lot of other vegan options for the same.
- Being a vegan can feel a little lonely sometimes. But then think about your motive and like Dory says "just keep swimming".
- Your friends and family will joke a lot about your vegan lifestyle (if they are not vegan) and it's nothing to be offended about unless they are humiliating you in any way.
- Girls! There are a lot of makeup products that are vegan. So yes! You don't have to be sad that there's no vegan makeup. You just need to look it up.
- Being vegan is not cheap but it's not expensive either. You will just have to invest in a lot more healthy food options.
- Don't eat unhealthy vegan food. You may say to yourself "as if that's possible" but yes! It's possible to eat unhealthy vegan food so make sure you're getting proper nutrients and eat healthily.
- It's not going to be easy. There are going to be people who will you give you crap about it but like I said ignore them. There are going to be times when you're going to want to eat that pepperoni cheese pizza but try to think of all the reasons you decided to give it up in the first place. There are going to be times when you'll question whether it's all worth it but don't worry you'll soon realize yes it is and you'll be at peace with yourself.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING VEGANISM:
A) WHERE DO YOU GET PROTEIN FROM?
answer:
Have you ever hear of this thing called tofu? Green peas? Black beans? Quinoa? Yeah! There are so many other sources of protein than just fish and meat.
B) WHERE DO YOU GET CALCIUM FROM IF YOU DON'T TAKE DAIRY PRODUCTS?
answer: Broccoli, kale, okra, soybeans, soy milk, almond milk, etc.
C) IF YOU LOVE ANIMALS THEN WHY ARE YOU EATING THEIR FOOD (plants)? (most asked question and also the most annoying one )
answer:
Image source: Google
It wouldn't matter that I am eating their food if they have been killed anyway.
D) I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT A SAINT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A VEGAN. YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT?
D) I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT A SAINT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A VEGAN. YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT?
Image source: Google
E) BUT PLANTS HAVE FEELINGS TOO. WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU KILL THEM?
Image source: Google
"Plants have feelings too". This is usually the best card people play against vegans. But to be honest, I have searched a lot about it. And it is a very controversial topic to discuss. All I can say is that I don't want to eat something that I know for sure has been caused a lot of suffering to be on my plate.
F) BUT WE HAVE EVOLVED TO EAT MEAT?
Image source: Google
This link here can help clear your doubts. Here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shattering-the-meat-myth_b_214390.html?
G) WHAT ARE VEGAN ALTERNATIVES FOR MILK?
Almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, oat milk, etc.
H) IS IT POSSIBLE TO GO 100% VEGAN?
Image source: Google
It is not impossible. But it is really really REALLY hard. But keep taking small steps and you may even reach there. In the end, it's all about trying our best.
Okay, so those are usually the questions people ask me. Feel free to post any questions that you may have down in the comments section.
GET YOUR VITAMIN B-12
It's very important for vegans to get vitamin B-12 to avoid being a victim of dangerous diseases. Make sure you read this article in depth:
- https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/vitamins-minerals-and-nutrients/vitamin-b12-your-key-facts
- http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/vitaminb12
LINKS AND OTHER RESOURCES
#Best speech you will ever hear by Gary Yourofsky :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6U00LMmC4
#Gary Yourofsky's speech Q and A session ( Very helpful) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkC4OJEx3c
- Documentaries based on this issue:
1.Cowspiracy the sustainability secret
2.Earthlings
3.Vegucated
#Gary's vegan shopping guide tips: http://adaptt.org/shopping.html
#Vegan shopping guide:http://www.peta.org/living/food/vegetarian-shopping/
You can shop online for vegan products here: ( international shipping available)
#Vegan shopping guide:http://www.peta.org/living/food/vegetarian-shopping/
You can shop online for vegan products here: ( international shipping available)
For Indians check out this website ( Helps you find the right products and brands ): http://www.indianvegan.com/home.php
You (Indians) can shop for products online here at this store:
And this is it. I tried my best to include all the possible things that I could about veganism without making it seem boring and lengthy ( even though it is quite lengthy). I will cover other issues regarding veganism in my upcoming posts. I hope I was helpful and clear enough. Lots of love, Natasha.
Fantabulous Work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mithu :)
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