Living Vegan: The Optimal Solution?

Vegan lifestyles call to remove all animal-based products from the diet and life. In the past these lifestyles have not been widely considered, but are seemingly beginning to be more advantageous. With respect to animal rights, economical concerns, and nutritional health, a vegan diet is more advantageous than the traditional omnivorous diet.

Animal rights are obviously a popular reason for people to convert to veganism, with organizations like PETA calling for the proper treatment of animals. These animal cruelty issues can be argued in either direction, based largely on social beliefs. In order to bypass moral arguments I will acknowledge that these arguments exist, but analyze more in-depth environmental and nutritional concerns.

Economically, veganism is more advantageous as nearly 800 million Americans could be fed if all the grain in the livestock sector were instead fed directly to the people, according to David Pimentel of Cornell University. Eliminating the livestock sector has the potential to begin alleviating the world’s hunger and energy problems.

Nutritionally, vegans have been shown to have lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, according to a study in the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition. These are two primary risk factors of heart disease, which takes the life of over 250,000 Americans yearly, according to the American College of Cardiology. With statistics like this, any means possible need to be considered to curb these risks.

There are economical and nutritional concerns for removing the livestock industry. A country can’t remove an entire industry without experiencing economic fallout. Additionally, maintaining a nutritionally balanced vegan diet is time consuming and expensive. But removing this industry isn’t the point of becoming vegan.

Everyone becoming vegan is an extreme solution, and is probably not the answer to the nations problems. What should be more widely considered throughout America is eliminating some animal-based products from the diet and lifestyle. This is a much more attainable goal, that can and should be pursued.

For more information on becoming vegan visit Vegan Action’s website or to end animal cruelty visit PETA’s website. Before drastically altering your diet I also recommend consulting your physician.