Veganism - The basic knowledge on vegan diet

What is veganism or vegan diet?

Veganism or vegan diet are plant-based foods that includes fruits, vegetables, soy, legumes, nuts,

plant-based dairy alternatives, sprouted or fermented foods and whole grains. This diet has

become very popular due to health, ethical and environmental reasons.

People have been predominantly eating plant-based or vegetarian diets for centuries. However, in

1944, the term ‘vegan’ was properly invented. Veganism is the ideology and way of living which

seeks to exclude any forms of animal cruelty and exploitations, whether for necessities like

clothing or any other purposes.

The food emphasized in vegan diets are rich in nutrients like vitamins, fibres, antioxidants and

phytonutrients. Veganism excludes foods like egg, meat, dairy, poultry and seafood. Vegan diets

are free of animal by-products such as honey, whey, lactose, egg-white albumen, gelatin,

carmine and animal derived vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids.

People generally choose to follow veganism to avoid animal cruelty and also for few of the

following reasons:

Ethical veganism strongly believes that all living creatures have the right to the freedom of life.

They oppose the fact that innocent animals should be slaughtered, simply to fulfill the need to

consume the flesh, drink its milk and wear its skin. They are against the psychological and

physical stress the animals have to endure as a result of modern farming practices.

Nowadays, humans in every sphere have started to choose veganism for potential health benefits.

Vegan diets or plant-based diets are known to reduce heart related risks, diabetes, cancer,

Alzheimer diseases, arthritis and premature deaths. Many studies have also shown that

veganism helps to lower body weights and body mass index (BMI) than non-vegan diets.

A recent United Nations (UN) report proved that animal products require more resources and

cause higher greenhouse gas emissions like nitrous oxides, methane and carbon dioxide than

plant-based products.

Animal agriculture requires 43 times more water than cereal grains, and also leads to

deforestation.