How Veganism is Changing The Way We Eat and Live

Food is not a philosophy or a religion; it is a practical solution for our bodies. If you consume anything, it serves as fuel for your body. Therefore, the food you put into it should energize you rather than make you sluggish. Unfortunately, instead of just altering their diets, a lot of individuals nowadays resort to external substances like tea, coffee, and energy drinks to get the energy they need to function.

This is where veganism, which has gained enormous popularity globally, enters the picture, as a vegan diet can be very healthy and nutritious, providing us with all the energy we need to live active and fulfilling lives. In a world where dietary preferences are as distinct as the cultures that have shaped the world today, people's interest in and devotion towards a vegan lifestyle is growing day by day. For some, it is out of sympathy for the animals, but increasingly, many are swapping diets due to environmental and health claims.

Is Going Vegan Better for the Environment?

Many argue that the reason humans should be mostly vegetarians stems from the argument that we

come from the evolutionary tree as primates. However, over the past few generations, the environment has changed, taking humans out of the tropical forest and replacing their access to a plant-based diet with animal supplements. Thus, for millions of years, that is, for as long as humans have existed, we have consumed meat, despite the fact that we descended from these animals. Because survival was the primary concern, humans, nations, and cultures were compelled to make certain choices at certain points in time. Now that survival is not a concern, we need to be more mindful of our choices.

Additionally, it is generally accurate to say that avoiding dairy and meat products has a very favorable impact on the environment. Research has repeatedly shown that a vegan diet reduces greenhouse gas emissions by around 70–80% when compared to an omnivore, fully meat-eating, or even vegetarian diet. It also conserves more water and utilizes less land. Furthermore, adopting a vegan diet can reduce an individual's carbon footprint by a significant margin. This means that each vegan not only contributes to their own well-being, but also to the well-being of the planet. Naturally, it is not this simple, as people cannot just change their diets in a day; cutting down on your intake of meat and dairy products can also have an impact.

Effects on the Economy

The planet's agricultural surface currently stands at 51 million square kilometers, of which 40 million are devoted to the production of livestock. The raising of these animals as well as the production of their feed account for 77% of the agricultural land, leaving less land for practicing agriculture.

Reducing our dependence on animal agriculture will allow us to conserve additional land for sustainable agricultural methods that enhance biodiversity, soil quality, and water conservation. Furthermore, changing our diets in response to this might help reduce health problems brought on by red meat consumption and save money on medical bills. One of the most affluent nations in the world, the United States of America, spends around 3.2 trillion dollars on health care for 350 million people. Which shockingly is more than what India’s economy accounts for, for 1.3 billion people. The United States and India have very different meat-eating habits, and these habits have a big impact on their health. In the United States, people eat an average of 120 kilograms of meat every year. This is a lot of meat, and it's linked to a lot of health problems, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. These health problems cost the United States an approximate $363 billion for heart disease, $245 billion for type 2 diabetes, and $173 billion for cancer every year. In India, most people have a vegetarian diet and eat less meat, which is an average of 34 kilogrammes every year. This lower meat consumption means that fewer people in India have these health problems.

This suggests that adopting a vegan lifestyle in India, along with boosting life expectancy and the economy, can also revolutionize the country's workforce by fostering a healthier and more productive workforce with healthier bodies and brains. This can stimulate economic growth by creating new opportunities in the industry. As demand for vegan products increases, new businesses will emerge to meet this demand, leading to job creation in various sectors. India's economic success may be further accelerated by this rise in the food industry, which can also contribute to overall economic expansion and diversification.

The Flip Side of Veganism

Although there are benefits to turning vegan, it goes without saying that there will also be drawbacks. Veganism, while gaining popularity worldwide, faces challenges in India, particularly for those with limited financial resources. As a significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line, the cost of vegan alternatives to animal products can pose a challenge. Even if they so desired, these people would find it difficult to transition from, say, cow's milk and its byproducts to soy milk. Poor people are not the only ones who face this issue; other individuals all around the nation experience similar problems combined with a fear of social acceptance. India, despite its diversity, has not been able to completely accept veganism and vegans. Furthermore, Indian vegans who live abroad, upon their journeys back to India, as well as vegans who come to India, often have to switch from being vegans to vegetarians, as there is still not much awareness and alternatives to tend to these desires, as few restaurants or stores in India have taken the initiative to add a vegan menu or products.

A well-planned vegan diet can provide all the nutrients you need to be healthy, but switching to a vegan lifestyle requires some careful planning and thought to get enough of certain nutrients. For instance, vitamin B12, which is important for your nerves and red blood cells, is mostly found in animal products, so vegans need to take supplements to make sure they get enough B12.

To help people in India switch to a vegan diet more easily if they want to, it is essential to raise more awareness about veganism and its benefits through either education campaigns or initiatives to make more vegan

options available. While many people embrace veganism because they care about animals, the environment, and living a life that aligns with their values, they have also helped raise awareness about environmental issues and made dietary changes to reflect their beliefs. But we cannot just focus on veganism to achieve a sustainable and ethical society. It might be more difficult to comprehend complex issues like capitalism and its effects on the environment if one takes an inflexible stance. In the struggle between societies' own self-serving desires and a more sustainable future, we need to realize that what matters most is that we all work together to make things better. With unity and understanding, we can build a more sustainable future for everyone.