| 1. Do it for the Environment | | | | lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and you |
| It takes far less energy and resources from the | | | | are well on your way to the 25-35 g of fiber |
| planet to farm plants than it does animals. Gary Null | | | | recommended daily. (The average North American |
| points out that "the breeding and slaughter of | | | | consumes only 10 g of fiber per day). |
| animals, and the subsequent processing and | | | | 6. Vegans Eat a Wide Variety of Protein Sources |
| packaging of the meat, requires an inordinate amount | | | | As a holistic lifestyle and nutrition coach I often ask |
| of land, water, energy, and raw materials." In addition | | | | my clients, "What are your protein sources?" The |
| the production of meat generates way more | | | | answer is simple: chicken. Day after day, night after |
| greenhouse gas emissions than the growth of plant | | | | night. My vegan clients on the other hand choose a |
| based food. In our current culture when caring for | | | | wide variety of protein sources from legumes and |
| the environment has become a moral obligation | | | | nuts to tempeh and hemp. |
| rather than a choice, going vegan is another thing we | | | | 7. Vegans are Healthier |
| can do to help our beautiful planet earth. | | | | The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of |
| 2. Vegan Diets are Cholesterol Free | | | | Canada found vegetarians have lower body mass |
| The only foods that contain cholesterol are animal | | | | indices than non-vegetarians, as well as lower rates |
| products. Cut out dairy, eggs, cheese and meat and | | | | of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians |
| you will completely eliminate the cholesterol in your | | | | also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood |
| diet. Add cholesterol-lowering legumes such as kidney | | | | pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 |
| beans and chickpeas and you will never have to | | | | diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer. The |
| worry about your triglyceride and LDL levels again. | | | | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported high |
| 3. Reduce the Amount of Hormones and Chemicals | | | | fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a |
| You Ingest | | | | reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, several |
| Treating animals with hormones to speed growth and | | | | common cancers, and other chronic diseases (such as |
| increase productivity is a widely accepted practice | | | | macular degeneration and cataracts). |
| within the meat and meat by-product industries. | | | | 8. It is possible to get B12 and Iron from a Vegan |
| Hormone residues in meat and meat products can | | | | Diet |
| disrupt the hormonal balance for many humans. Take | | | | There is a myth that because vegans do not |
| for example a common growth hormone called | | | | consume fish, milk and milk products, eggs, red meat, |
| estradiol, the European Commission's Scientific | | | | and poultry they could not possibly be getting enough |
| Committee on Veterinary Measures Relating to Public | | | | of iron or B12 without supplements. Many people do |
| Health has raised evidence that suggests this | | | | not realize that B12 is naturally available in miso and |
| hormone is a carcinogen that exerts both tumor | | | | nutritional yeast. Iron on the other hand occurs |
| initiating and promoting effects. | | | | naturally in spinach, legumes and pumpkin seeds. |
| 4. A Healthy Vegan Diet is a Low-Fat Diet | | | | 9. A vegan diet is an Alkaline Forming |
| A vegan diet is naturally low in fat. One hundred | | | | An acidic environment in the body keeps the body |
| grams of mature boiled chickpeas contains only 2.6 | | | | from achieving optimal health. Over consumption of |
| grams of fat of which only 0.27 gram is saturated. Of | | | | acid forming foods including meat, dairy, refined |
| course the 7.6 grams of dietary fiber in that same | | | | grains, and sugars leads to obesity, fatigue, kidney |
| serving of chickpeas will quickly carry that out of | | | | stones, viruses, bacterial infections, cancer and |
| your system. Tofu contains only 4 g of fat per 100 | | | | fatigue. Consuming an alkaline forming diet including |
| g. Compare that with cheddar cheese which contains | | | | plenty of chlorophyll-rich vegetables creates an |
| 15 g of fat per 100 g - more than four times the | | | | environment for health in the body. |
| amount. | | | | 10. Do it for the Animals |
| 5. A Vegan Diet is High in Fiber | | | | Concern for the ethical treatment of animals is a |
| By its very nature a vegan diet is high in fiber. Animal | | | | powerful reason to eat a vegan diet. Many animals |
| products have absolutely no fiber. Legumes on the | | | | are kept and transported in abysmal crowded |
| other hand are one of the most fiber rich plant | | | | conditions and slaughtered inhumanely. Compassionate |
| source foods on the planet. Pair the legumes with | | | | living is synonymous with a vegan diet. |