The Way to Veganism

THE TERM “VEGAN” WAS CHOSEN BY COMBINING THE FIRST AND LAST LETTERS OF VEGETARIAN. VEGANISM IS CURRENTLY DEFINED AS A WAY OF LIVING THAT ATTEMPTS TO EXCLUDE ALL FORMS OF ANIMAL EXPLOITATION AND CRUELTY, BE IT FROM FOOD, CLOTHING, OR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. A FOLLOWER OF THE DIET OR THE PHILOSOPHY IS KNOWN AS A VEGAN.

So now you know what is the general defination of a vegan! But distinctions may be made between several categories of veganism.
1. Ethical : A common and unifying reason that people go vegan is to follow a more caring, compassionate lifestyle. 2. Plant-based : Some follow a vegan diet for health reasons or to lose weight, without considering ethics. 3. Raw : Raw vegans do not eat anything cooked or heated up! Fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains are consumed raw. 4. Enviromental concern: Many people, easpecially the young are trying to make changes in their daily lives to protect the planet. Mass consumption of meat and dairy is harmful for the environment.

Donald Watson coined the term "vegan" in 1944 when he co-founded the Vegan Society in the UK. Ethical vegans strongly believe that all creatures have the right to life and freedom. Therefore they oppose ending a conscious being’s life simply to consume its flesh drink its milk, or wear its skin—specially because alternatives like soy milk, coconut milk and almond milk are available.

The Interview

Cintya Dempta: Was there anything in particular that made you start being a vegan?
Sandra G: Posts on social media and documentaries made me curious to find out about what exactly happens to animals in a slaughter house. I came across a documentary called Earthlink produced by Joaquin Phoenix which spoke as to what happens to animals in a slaughter house, this left a great impact on me.

CD: How were the initial days of being a vegan?
Sandra: Initially it was very difficult for me to become a vegan - I was hard-core meat eater and loved fish and egg. I'd say that ‘the biggest battle is with oneself’ - if you can convince yourself that you can do it then you will do it. Giving up fish and egg was the biggest challenge for me.

CD: Do you ever miss meat? We see alot of fake meat recipies so it seems vegans miss the real one?!
Sandra: Real Meat would include taking a life and Fake Meat would not include taking a life. Taking a life has many complex emotions and is wrong - but we as humans are conditioned and told from birth that we can eat this and not that like, we can eat cow but we cannot eat dog.

CD: What are the health benefits and negatives you’ve experienced as a vegan?
Sandra: Personally, I do not really eat a lot of healthy vegan food! I would rather eat potato curry than a healthy vegan dish! But plant-based diets anyway give us essential vitamins and nutrients. If there is one thing negative then B12 deficiency is the common one for vegans and that almost all vegan women suffer from this - but even non vegans suffer from this deficiency... so its not really exclusive to vegans. In fact, before becoming a vegan I suffered from B12 deficiency and now I'm cured from it.

CD: What are your top three giveaways for our readers wanting to turn vegan?
Sandra: Firstly, research before forming any opinions, read and watch documentaries and see what happen in slaughter house. Secondly, you must watch the documentary called Earthlink. Lastly, visit a slaughter house once - that will make you a vegan!