When switching to a vegan diet, you will find yourself easily meeting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
Hundreds of millions of people are going hungry all over the world because much of the arable land is being used to grow feed grain for animals rather than for people.2 Human hunger and poverty is increased by diverting grain and cropland to support livestock instead of people. "Slowly the realization is dawning that to feed plants to animals and then feed on the animals or their products is grossly inefficient.3
Tragically, some 80% of the world's hungry children live in countries with actual food surpluses, much of which is in the form of feed fed to animals which will be consumed by only the well-to-do consumers.4
Certain antibiotics are used to promote growth in chickens, cows and other food-producing animals, which can lead to strains of bacteria resistant to the antibiotics. Many of these bacteria can then infect people and cause fatal illnesses if antibiotics are no longer effective against them. The increase in bacteria resistant to antibiotics has been a growing problem over the past several years. The main bacteria of concern are salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli. The World Health Organization calculates each year approximately 14,000 Americans die due to drug-resistant infections. Other growth-promoting antibiotics that can lead to bacterial resisistance include penicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin and erythromycin, all of which are commonly used to treat infections in humans.5
Common foodborne pathogens are: Salmonella species, Campylobacter jejuni/coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other related strains, Parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum, Norwalk virus. Immediate consequences -- an acute illness with abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, Long-lasting conditions such as reactive arthritis, Guillain-Barr syndrome (the most common cause of acute paralysis in adults and children), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and death, particularly in young children.6
The FAO of the United Nations reports problems created or significantly increased by animal excrement and growing animal feed: Decreased biodiversity through habitat loss and ecosystem damage, Soil erosion, Reduction in the availability of irrigation water, Greenhouse gas production (nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide), Aquifer depletion, Nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticide contamination of water through run-off from fields. The report lists the following problems created by manure: Contamination of surface waters, Aquatic ecosystem damage, Greenhouse gas production (nitrous oxide and methane), Soil contamination with heavy metals, Acid rain and forest damage from ammonia emissions. The report also states that fossil fuel energy is a major input of industrial egg, milk, and animal flesh production, and that factory farms are inefficient at converting this energy into food for humans.7
It is the position of The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic 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. Vegetarian diets offer a number of advantages, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein and higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, boron, folate, antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and phytochemicals.8
Research by Canadian experts has shown a vegan diet is as effective at reducing levels of the most damaging form of cholesterol as the new generation of expensive, fat-lowering drugs. Now people showing early warnings of heart disease can improve their health without medication, the study's authors say.9
A substantial body of scientific evidence raises concerns about health risks from cow鈥檚 milk products. These problems relate to the proteins, sugar, fat, and contaminants in dairy products, and the inadequacy of whole cow鈥檚 milk for infant nutrition. Health risks from milk consumption are greatest for infants less than one year of age, in whom whole cow鈥檚 milk can contribute to deficiencies in several nutrients, including iron, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E.10 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants under one year of age not receive whole cow鈥檚 milk.11
In countries where dairy products are not generally consumed, there is actually less osteoporosis than in the United States. Studies have shown little effect of dairy products on osteoporosis.12 The Harvard Nurses鈥?Health Study followed 78,000 women for a 12-year period and found that milk did not protect against bone fractures. Indeed, those who drank three glasses of milk per day had more fractures than those who rarely drank milk.13
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a series of papers14 describing the benefits of basing one's diet on plant foods: 1) High fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, several common cancers, and other chronic diseases (such as macular degeneration and cataracts); 2) Legumes (e.g., beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts) are excellent sources of protein, fiber, and a variety of micronutrients and phytochemicals that may protect against disease; 3) Regular consumption of nuts is lined with a lower risk for heart disease and lower mortality rates; 4) Whole-grain consumption is associated with a reduced risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stomach and colon cancers.
Industrial fishing is seriously damaging ocean ecosystems.15 Moreover, an Institute of Medical Ethics (U.K) panel concluded that fish feel pain. Panel member Patrick Bateson wrote, "Few people have much fellow feeling for a fish even though many fish are long-lived, have complicated nervous systems, and are capable of learning complicated tasks."16
USDA APHIS' Wildlife Services and livestock producers kill wildlife to protect "farm animals." Having eliminated native populations of wolves and grizzly bears,17 federal government hunters now kill about 100,000 coyotes, bobcats, feral hogs, bison, and mountain lions each year. They are shot, caught in steel-jaw leghold traps or neck nooses, or poisoned with cyanide.18
Environmentally, turning animal hides into leather is an energy intensive and polluting practice. Since leather is intimately related to the exploitation of animals, it seems most desirable to buy man-made materials and encourage companies to develop more ecologically sound alternatives.Why is being on a vegan diet good? What are some reasons that it's bad for you?
You'll die prematurely and the quality of your life will suck.Why is being on a vegan diet good? What are some reasons that it's bad for you?
The previous poster is extremely misinformed and is making extremely stereotypical comments, typical of someone who would use the term "liberal" to describe someone. If you're going to assume all vegans are liberals, you're mighty mistaken.
I'm the only vegan I know and I am definitely not doing it to be "cool" because no one around here likes it. You know what ... screw them. I AM doing this for my health, and you close-minded *ssholes are the REAL problem in this country. You're a child if you're going to judge someone for being vegan without knowing the whole story.Why is being on a vegan diet good? What are some reasons that it's bad for you?
When you follow a strict vegan diet be careful that you get enough protein, easy to do though. It is good to be a vegan and be aware what you eat.Why is being on a vegan diet good? What are some reasons that it's bad for you?
its great it keeps you from being obese, saves animals, helps the environment! people die with an average of 6 lbs of decomposed meat in their colon... ew! there are no reasons its bad for you, there are millions of studies showing vegetarian diets are completely save and ideal for the human body, americans get way too much protein, its not hard to make up for what you dont get from meat..
Being on a vegan diet is never good. You don't get enough protein.
And vegans, don't tell me that you get it from soy. Soy protein is not the same as "meat" protein.
Most people are self-proclaimed "vegans" because they think it is the cool thing to do, not because they really care about their health.
This vegan thing is just a really corny (no pun intended) fad, for really corny, liberal people who need some sense of identity because they are unhappy with themselves.
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