Why not make consuming fewer animal products one of your 2018 resolutions?
By Kelly Iverson
By Kelly Iverson
 | THE clash continues between vegans and those who follow a more carnivorous-inspired diet. What is the point of abstaining from eating animal products? What effect does it have on the world, if any? While the idea may seem unfathomable to many, abiding by a vegan diet is easier (and better for you) than you might think. Becoming a vegan is difficult, however, unless one can debunk the arguments against this particular diet. Whether you are making New Year resolutions to be healthier, improve your quality of life (as well as animals’) or simply want to try something new, here is a case for veganism. |
| Countering the arguments Here, we take a look at the top arguments made in hopes of derailing a vegan diet. We also look at why they just might be wrong, as well. Humans are carnivores No, we are not. Humans were not designed to be carnivores (notice the lack of fangs). However, we were also not intended to be herbivores, either. Though the rebuttal is weak, you simply cannot compare human design to natural, carnivorous predators. If animals can hunt to eat, why can’t we? While our animal friends venture into their habitats and kill in need of food, it is important to note that they have no moral compass as humans do. While meat may have been beneficial to human beings at the beginning of time, it is simply not necessary in this a day and age. Where would I get my protein from? Though it may be trickier to consume the daily amount of protein we need on a vegan diet, there are plenty of plant-based proteins in some affordable and delicious finds that can substitute all types of meat. These include: • Lentils • Chickpeas • Black beans • Nuts • Hemp seeds • Chia seeds • Tofu The list of proteins that do not come from animal meat seemingly goes on and on. Everyone would need to stop eating meat in order for my meatfree diet to make a difference Just one person abstaining from eating meat has a very clear-cut difference. Depending on the diet, one person refraining from eating meat for a year could result in upwards of hundreds of fewer animals being killed. Vegetarian calculator even estimates that if one person switched to a vegetarian diet, 202 animals would be saved because of it per year.  |  I love the taste of meat and could never stop eating it Trust me, I get it. I crave to sink my teeth into a juicy cheeseburger just as much as the next person. That being said, there are plenty of delicious, meat-like alternatives that can help keep one from missing meat. Ingredients like cauliflower, mushrooms, soy and tofu are just a few things that can substitute both the texture and taste of most meat products. Surprisingly enough, they are unnervingly convincing. I once had a vegan hot dog that tasted so similar to pork, I was convinced the vendor was playing a trick on me. Alas, it was only tofu. I love the taste of meat and could never stop eating it Trust me, I get it. I crave to sink my teeth into a juicy cheeseburger just as much as the next person. That being said, there are plenty of delicious, meat-like alternatives that can help keep one from missing meat. Ingredients like cauliflower, mushrooms, soy and tofu are just a few things that can substitute both the texture and taste of most meat products. Surprisingly enough, they are unnervingly convincing. I once had a vegan hot dog that tasted so similar to pork, I was convinced the vendor was playing a trick on me. Alas, it was only tofu. If we do not kill animals, they will eat all of the grains and grass, thus harming the planet Meat has a bigger impact on the environment than any other food we as humans consume. In order to make room for livestock, humans have cleared massive amounts of land that used to be the home of both threatened and endangered species. In addition to land, livestock is one of the largest users of water. Pollution created by the livestock sector is certainly not helping anyone, as well, and this sector is one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases, which are detrimental to climate change. It’s unhealthy Eating one hamburger a day can increase one’s risk of dying by a third. Eating red or processed meat can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and meat consumption is associated with many other major diseases, as well. It is high in both saturated fat and cholesterol, which can leads to things like heart disease. The meat you are consuming is not hormone free. The list goes on and on. |
Let’s wrap this up
With all this being said, Thailand is regarded as one of the most vegetarian-friendly countries in Southeast Asia. The Asian Correspondent even reported that behind Seychelles, Thailand has the lowest annual meat consumption per capita (kg), coming in at 25.8. It is also home to a staggering number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
That does not mean that there is no room for improvement, however. Whether you take on a weekday vegetarian diet or even make every Monday a meat-less one, we can all improve both our diets and the planet this New Year.
With all this being said, Thailand is regarded as one of the most vegetarian-friendly countries in Southeast Asia. The Asian Correspondent even reported that behind Seychelles, Thailand has the lowest annual meat consumption per capita (kg), coming in at 25.8. It is also home to a staggering number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
That does not mean that there is no room for improvement, however. Whether you take on a weekday vegetarian diet or even make every Monday a meat-less one, we can all improve both our diets and the planet this New Year.
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