Is Veganism a Sustainable Lifestyle?
Veganism is considered both a diet, and a lifestyle in which no animal products are consumed or used by an individual. The popularity and prevalence of vegan lifestyle changes have been steadily increasing in recent years. Veganism is a lifestyle that can benefit the environment and the physical wellbeing of people who adopt such a lifestyle, but has the potential to be an unsustainable lifestyle for some.
There are several factors that may motivate an individual to adopt a vegan lifestyle. These motivations include environmental benefits, improved health, and ethical views on the treatment of animals. Veganism is defined as a lifestyle where an individual consumes and uses no animal products whatsoever …show more content…
The cost of these items can oftentimes be higher than that of the product these alternatives aim to replace (Gibson, 2013). The cost of standard American diet food staples are often priced much higher than whole fruits and vegetables. People who follow a vegan lifestyle are also discouraged from using health and beauty products that contain any ingredients sourced from animals (Brocksopp,2014). The cost of producing health and beauty items that are certified vegan is often more expensive than the average commercial beauty or health product. As a result, the financial cost of a vegan lifestyle has the potential to be more expensive than the standard American lifestyle (Gibson,2013). The cost of commercial vegan meat and cheese products are often quite expensive, due to the cost that it takes to produce a food that so closely mimics the real product (Gibson,2013). Despite the increase in price, many of these vegan meat and cheese replacement products have little nutritional value and are not essential to the diet. Emma Gibson, a blog writer and 6 year vegan argues that all nutritional requirements can be met through a vegan diet based around simple whole foods, without animal replacement products (Gibson,2013). A study performed by The Journal of Hunger & …show more content…
Historically, humans are omnivores and have survived on the planet consuming both vegetables ,and meat sources. Vitamin B12 is essential for human life and can only be found in animal products, apart for a select few strains of algae (Hiller,2011). Vitamin B12 is important because it helps nerve and blood cells function in the body, and assists in the synthesis of DNA (Hiller,2011). There are many possible side effects if a person does not consume enough vitamin B12. Oftentimes, a deficiency is vitamin B12 presents with fatigue, malaise, loss of coordination and balance, depression and confusion, and can ultimately result in a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia (Hiller,2011). If a vitamin B12 deficiency is untreated, there can be major consequences on mental health and mood such as anxiety, depression, and even psychosis (Hiller,2011). Furthermore, vegan women who breast feed their babies who don't get enough vitamin B12 run the risk of their babies not acquiring enough of the vitamin (Hiller,2011). Other common vitamins and nutrients that are prevalent in animal products that a vegan diet may not supply enough of are calcium, Omega 3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc (Craig, 2009). Aside from the essential vitamins and nutrients that a vegan diet may not provide enough of, there is also some debate on whether or not a vegan lifestyle can contribute to the development or
Veganism is considered both a diet, and a lifestyle in which no animal products are consumed or used by an individual. The popularity and prevalence of vegan lifestyle changes have been steadily increasing in recent years. Veganism is a lifestyle that can benefit the environment and the physical wellbeing of people who adopt such a lifestyle, but has the potential to be an unsustainable lifestyle for some.
There are several factors that may motivate an individual to adopt a vegan lifestyle. These motivations include environmental benefits, improved health, and ethical views on the treatment of animals. Veganism is defined as a lifestyle where an individual consumes and uses no animal products whatsoever …show more content…
The cost of these items can oftentimes be higher than that of the product these alternatives aim to replace (Gibson, 2013). The cost of standard American diet food staples are often priced much higher than whole fruits and vegetables. People who follow a vegan lifestyle are also discouraged from using health and beauty products that contain any ingredients sourced from animals (Brocksopp,2014). The cost of producing health and beauty items that are certified vegan is often more expensive than the average commercial beauty or health product. As a result, the financial cost of a vegan lifestyle has the potential to be more expensive than the standard American lifestyle (Gibson,2013). The cost of commercial vegan meat and cheese products are often quite expensive, due to the cost that it takes to produce a food that so closely mimics the real product (Gibson,2013). Despite the increase in price, many of these vegan meat and cheese replacement products have little nutritional value and are not essential to the diet. Emma Gibson, a blog writer and 6 year vegan argues that all nutritional requirements can be met through a vegan diet based around simple whole foods, without animal replacement products (Gibson,2013). A study performed by The Journal of Hunger & …show more content…
Historically, humans are omnivores and have survived on the planet consuming both vegetables ,and meat sources. Vitamin B12 is essential for human life and can only be found in animal products, apart for a select few strains of algae (Hiller,2011). Vitamin B12 is important because it helps nerve and blood cells function in the body, and assists in the synthesis of DNA (Hiller,2011). There are many possible side effects if a person does not consume enough vitamin B12. Oftentimes, a deficiency is vitamin B12 presents with fatigue, malaise, loss of coordination and balance, depression and confusion, and can ultimately result in a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia (Hiller,2011). If a vitamin B12 deficiency is untreated, there can be major consequences on mental health and mood such as anxiety, depression, and even psychosis (Hiller,2011). Furthermore, vegan women who breast feed their babies who don't get enough vitamin B12 run the risk of their babies not acquiring enough of the vitamin (Hiller,2011). Other common vitamins and nutrients that are prevalent in animal products that a vegan diet may not supply enough of are calcium, Omega 3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc (Craig, 2009). Aside from the essential vitamins and nutrients that a vegan diet may not provide enough of, there is also some debate on whether or not a vegan lifestyle can contribute to the development or