Veganism: Food Fad or Forever?

The term “vegan” was not coined until the mid-1900s, but some evidence of veganism has been dated to exist at the same time as Greek mathematician Pythagoras. Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha) was also known to share vegetarian diets with his followers.In 1944, Donald Watson, a non-dairy vegetarian, met with a few of his peers to talk about the diets and lifestyles they led. It was at this meeting they settled on the term “vegan” to describe their non-dairy vegetarian lifestyle. A few years later, what would later be registered as The Vegan Society solidly defined the term as “the principle of the emancipation of animals from exploitation by man. ”According to the society, being vegan means “to seek an end to the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection, and by all other uses involving exploitation of animal life by man.” The legacy of their lifestyle lives on today, but is it a fad? Modern vegans have put their own spin on the traditional way of living that’s grown rapidly in popularity. Strict vegans and lax vegans alike have basic foods that are essential to their diet, including: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans and more. The “exploitation of animal life” refers to anything made or produced by animals. Typically, this includes meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, honey, mayonnaise and more. Modern vegans have found a way to turn their favorites — comfort food, soul food, seafood — into vegan feasts.

A vegan lifestyle isn’t limited to food consumption. For example, products that tested on animals are a big no-no. Animal-based testing harms the animals more often than not, and there are numerous products that proudly refuse to use them in testing. For medicine that requires testing on animals, many vegans will vie for another option. Many vegans avoid clothing that uses animal products like wool, cashmere, silk, leather and suede. Companies that use animal products in clothing rarely acknowledge the importance of preventing animal cruelty, and strict vegans go out of their way to avoid buying it. Cotton, instead, is the vegan’s best friend, in addition to linen, polyester, spandex, denim and nylon. Vegans also choose their forms of entertainment wisely. Visiting zoos and aquariums is a form of animal exploitation. Zoos and aquariums have received increased pushback recently due to the inhumane treatment of animals they possess. Not only are they forced to live in an environment that is not their own, but they are historically subject to mistreatment. Horse racing, dog fighting and other forms of forced animal entertainment are also held in contempt.

Besides the things they avoid, there are a ton of benefits to adopting a vegan lifestyle. A vegan diet is rich in nutrients, and could bring about a loss of excess weight. There’s a lower rate of heart disease, high blood sugar and irregular kidney functions among those that are vegan. There’s even been studies that highlight the correlation between vegan diets and a lower likelihood of getting cancer. Based on their philosophy, vegans are much more attuned to the environment. A plant based lifestyle depends on a healthy environment for the Earth to produce the products we need. Veganism as a lifestyle — and not a fad— is a deep relationship between the Earth and the individual, creating a lasting impact.