About the Writer
Maddy Carter, Reporter
I am in 9th grade, and I took Journalism because I've always enjoyed writing, and I thought that this class would be really fun.
When I grow up I'd...
Why the Vegan Lifestyle is Right for Everyone
December 15, 2020
Being vegan is not only good for your body, but it is also great for the environment. Eating a vegan based diet has so many amazing benefits for your health and mental well being that most people don’t even know about!
If going completely vegan isn’t for you, by even just cutting down on the amount of meat that you eat, you can reduce tons of the amount of greenhouse gases that are released because of the meat industry.
Well, what does that mean?
It means that if even a fraction of the human race cut down or even stopped eating meat, the cattle and other meat industries would have to cut down on the amount of animals they raise to be sold. This would later lead to a massive reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases produced.
When I first heard this it completely changed my perspective on eating meat, or any animal produced products. This was when I first decided that I wanted to become vegan. Although it’s definitely been a struggle to change my diet so drastically, I’ve never questioned whether it was worth it.
There are dozens of health factors of being vegan such as: lowering blood sugar levels, improving kidney function, lowering the risk of heart disease, and even lowering your chances of getting some cancers. A vegan lifestyle can also help maintain a healthy weight.
“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), eating 50 grams of processed meat per day—four strips of bacon or a single hot dog—can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by up to 18 percent. Diabetes, liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, and colon cancer are all linked to eating meat,” according to livekindley.com.
By becoming vegan, you will also improve your vegetable intake as well as protein and fruit–helping your body round out the necessary requirements for a complete, healthy diet.
“One study, conducted in 2010 by the National Cancer Institute, found that nine out of ten people in America do not reach the minimum recommended daily intake of vegetables,” according to livekindly.com
Some things that I have noticed about myself since starting a vegan diet is how much clearer my skin has become, my hair is healthier, and I just overall feel so much healthier!
Dermatologist Sharma says: “If you want really good skin, or you want to help prevent yourself from getting some of the diseases that your family members might have, you really need to look into eating plant-based, whole foods.”
Sharma, from personal experience, even said that after becoming vegan she slowly but definitely saw the changes in how clear her skin was becoming since starting a plant based diet.
There are a wide variety of dairy and meat substitutes available in all grocery stores now, as compared to previous generations. It has never been a better time to be a vegan!
If you’re interested in starting a vegan diet, here are some websites I have used that provide delicious meal choices.