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THE DIRT
The United Nations has reported that a vegan diet can feed far more people than an animal based diet.
Vegan: One who chooses to avoid consuming animal products (this includes not eating dairy and eggs). Many vegans also choose to avoid leather, wool and down products and refrain from using cosmetics or products that have been tested on animals.
Environmental benefits:
Dinner Party fact:
"You may save more water by not eating a pound of beef than you would by not showering for six months" (John Robbins based on one seven minute shower a day, using a standard shower head.).
. Worldwide 38% of the world's grain is produced to feed livestock (in the US this figure is around 60%).
. Meat and dairy production is an inefficient use of energy. Animals use the energy they get from food to move around, keep warm and perform their daily bodily functions, with as little as 2.5% actually being converted into food for human consumption.
. It takes 500 litres of water to produce 1kg of potatoes, 900 litres per kg of wheat, 3,500 litres per kg of digestible chicken flesh and up to a massive 100,000 litres for 1kg of beef.
. Beef is higher in kilojoules than vegetable produce however, even when this is calculated for, beef still requires 36 times more water per calorie than wheat. Beef is also higher in protein, however when the same calculations are done for digestible protein, wheat comes out as 18 times more water efficient than beef.
. A varied vegan diet uses only one fifth of the land needed for a typical European omnivorous diet.
Read more on the environmental impact of what we eat at http://www.vegansociety.com/html/
Health Benefits:
"Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than non vegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischaemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer."
American Dietetic Association, June 2003 position paper
A randomized controlled trial by Barnard et al 2006, found that when patients with type 2 diabetes were put on a vegan diet they had statistically significant improved outcomes when compared to those individuals put on the American Dietetic Association Diet. Benefits in the vegan group included reduction in medication, increased weight loss, lowered LDL ('bad') cholesterol, and lowered urinary albumin (a sign of early kidney damage) http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/29/8/1777
Remeber if you are thinking of changing your diet in any way consult a qualified health professional.
The animal rights issue:
While cosy little country farms do still exist, they are no longer where most of our meat, eggs and dairy come from. The US based video below isn't pleasant, but worth watching for those interested.
http://www.chooseveg.com/animal-cruelty.asp
(NB: in Australia chickens are not given growth hormones as noted in this video however they can be given routine antibiotics which are used to promote growth.)
G SPOT
While I have been vegetarian for over 16 years (with the exception of several brief returns to chicken or fish), I am not Vegan. However I was for six weeks and I must admit, I felt the best I ever have and my eyes, hair and skin began to glow very quickly!
Visit the BLOG for some great Vegan recipes and a very interesting article 'Cows and the Climate'.
COME CLEAN
Whether you are a dedicated vegan or just thinking about reducing your animal product consumption, you'll love these sites........................
Want delicious wholesome food that helps save our planet?
Vegan Perfection offer a fantastic range of organic, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian products that are great for people, good for animals and protect our environment. Vegan Perfection's ethical products are completely cholesterol free, suitable for those with food allergies, and made only from organic and natural ingredients. Visit www.veganperfection.com
For a good deal more insight and detail on all things vegan we recommend "The Food Revolution; how your diet can help save your life and the world" by John Robbins. It is a fascinating read and yes John is a vegan, so there may be a small bias, however the book is also extremely well referenced with high level medical research and scientific papers. Interestingly John is also the son of one of the founders of Baskin and Robbins ice cream!
For more information on how the animal rights side of veganism, the following brochure provides a good overview; Vegetarian Society
For more information on the environmental side of veganism see this Vegetarian Society brochure:
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