Becoming vegan is a very individual choice, and people decide on this lifestyle for a number of reasons.

Here are 5 important ones to consider:

1. Part of the reason is a belief in the absolute right of animals to exist freely without human interference, but also because many commercially-raised egg-laying chickens and dairy cows are slaughtered when their productivity declines with age – this is even the case with free range animals.
2. Many choose to adopt a vegan lifestyle because of the amount of hormones and or chemicals are found in meat and or dairy products.  In a recent article published by Harvard Gazette of Harvard University, author Ganmaa Davaasambuu, M.D.,  states that “Butter, meat, eggs, milk, and cheese are implicated in higher rates of hormone-dependent cancers in general. Breast cancer has been linked particularly to consumption of milk and cheese.”
3. Livestock farming has a devastating effect on the planets resources. A vegan believes that producing food through animal farming is inefficient, because animal feed production takes up a land mass, fertilizer, water, and other resources – resources that could be used for feeding humans. Thus, global hunger could be eradicated if we used the land to grow vegetable crops instead of grazing for meat consumption.
4. In the pursuit of higher yields, most vegans believe that livestock farms are accelerating topsoil erosion; lowering its productivity for the cultivation of crops. A great deal of wilderness is converted to grazing and farm land because of this. A significant amount of pollution in groundwater and rivers comes from animal waste from massive feedlots and factory farms. Have you ever smelled a cow factory? 5 bhat says you will remember it forever!
5. Health-An article published in Food Technology in October 2012 explained that plant-based diets either minimize or completely eliminate people’s genetic propensity to developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes type 2, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes contain no cholesterol and are low in fat, especially saturated fats. They are also high in fiber and other nutrients. Vegans say there are several plant based foods that are good sources of protein, such as beans, nuts, and legumes.

A significant number of vegans say the most successful way to become a long-term vegan is to do so gradually. Most vegans were vegetarians first, and gradually made the transition into veganism.

Emily Farish (L.Ac., Dipl. Oriental Medicine, NCCAOM and NCBTMB certified) is Atmanjai’s Resident Integrative Medical Practitioner. Her passion is healing – Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbal Treatments. Emily can be contacted for consultations at Atmanjai.