The foundation of any structure (or relationship) is important. In order to build something solid that can withstand adversity and hard times, the foundation MUST be sure. So when considering any lifestyle modification, we must do so with a foundation of solid information. I am very big on research and always in search of: who, what, when, where, why, and how. With that being said, as we prepare for the month of October, which has been declared Vegan Awareness Month in Raleigh, North Carolina, let’s lay a foundation for VEGAN.

What is vegan?

According to the Vegan Society’s website veganism is defined as: a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. They further their definition by adding – from ‘junk food vegans’ to raw food vegans, and everything in between, there’s a version of veganism to suit everyone. Yet one thing we all have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat (including fish, shellfish and insects), dairy, eggs and honey – as well as products like leather and any tested on animals.

Veganism is a lifestyle decision that is not limited to food, it is literally the way people choose to live – ever mindful of animals. For the most part my family and I are aligned closely with their definition, when it comes to how we eat. Check out our story here. *****For the record I prefer to be called a plant-based foodie ;).

Why go vegan?

There are numerous reasons to go vegan, the three major ones being health, environment and animals.

Eating a healthy vegan diet has shown to prevent a number of diseases, improve skin, contribute to weight loss, support detoxification, and on and on and on…

  • Cardiovascular disease can be prevented or reversed.
  • Cholesterol can be controlled.
  • Some cancers can be prevented and eliminated (read / browse).
  • Diabetes can be prevented / reversed.
  • Arthritis prevented / reversed (browse).

The environment benefits from a vegan lifestyle because of the minimization of our carbon footprint. It is said that, the production of meat and other animal products places a heavy burden on the environment – from crops and water required to feed the animals, to the transport and other processes involved from farm to fork. The vast amount of grain feed required for meat production is a significant contributor to deforestation, habitat loss and species extinction. By choosing to take on a vegan lifestyle it essentially saves the land.

Lastly and most importantly, for vegans, the animals. Vegans believe that killing animals is not justified and that animals are living beings seeking life and freedom.

So go vegan for your health(!!!), the environment and animals.

I would like to point out that not all vegans are healthy and not all non-vegans are unhealthy. Food choices make a difference. If you are a vegan and choose to eat processed foods and little to no fruits and veggies, you can expect a not so good outcome when it comes to your health. This is why research is very important. When going on vacation we research places, compare pricing, heck, we even do that when purchasing a car or buying clothes. Why not do the same with the food we eat. Pay attention to how your body responds to meat. Take a break from eating meat, then evaluate how you feel. Do your OWN research and experimentation in order to make a balanced decision. And do not be afraid to read (thanks for reading this blog) – just check your source!

I have a WHOLE month to share information with you. Hopefully, what was shared today will contribute to laying a solid foundation. There is so much information in my heart & my head and I am super excited to share. If you are interested in being a part of our October Vegan Awareness group, send an e-mail to [email protected] with the subject: vegan awareness. Join in the challenges I will be hosting throughout the month.

What are your thoughts on veganism? Have you tried it? Why or why not? Tell me in the comments.