What is Vegan?

Many people who are vegan have a hard time being healthy. This is because vegans do not eat animal products, so they cannot get the proper nutrients. They won't eat animal products because an animal must be slaughtered to get the meat. They also think that because plants are alive and we are killing them to eat them. Vegans also wont eat things that come from animals because they think that animals are mistreated when they have to get things from them. This is true because we cage these animals and put them in small areas and don't feed them enough and treat them horribly. Vegans also make it so that more people can eat meat. In the world there is not enough meat to go around and there is not enough space to fill the animals needs.

Because vegans don't eat any animal products they have to eat other things. A normal person eats 2 - 3 servings of meat a day. A vegan has to supplement this by eating more fruits and vegetables. Another thing is that in a normal diet we eat a lot of dairy. Vegans cannot eat dairy because it comes from animals so they have to eat fortified dairy supplements. These dairy supplements are not as efficient as dairy (obviously) because they don't provide the right amount of nutrients. When you don't have the right nutrients you can become deficient over time. This can lead to serious health issues in the long. These supplements aren't all bad though, and there are many options for people who are vegan.  

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As you can see the vegan food pyramid is very different from the normal food pyramid. They differ in many ways because vegans have to eat other things to make up for not eating meat and dairy or eggs and things like that. Vegans have to choose what they eat very carefully. If they suddenly eat meat or an animal product it can lead to health issues because they haven't had it in their system. Being a vegan is not a good or bad thing it is just a life style. There are pros and cons to it and if you believe in the logic behind being a vegan than you could try it. Even if you don't like it, you can always change your mind and go back to a normal diet. 

Website on the Pros and Cons of a Vegan Diet:  http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390444184704577587174077811182

Website on the Recommended Supplements for Vegans: 

http://www.theveganrd.com/2010/11/recommended-supplements-for-vegans.html

Wimberly Underwood

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