FOR YOUR HEALTH
The health benefits of a plant-based (vegan) diet are truly amazing! A well-planned vegan diet is recognized by many, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the ADA), as being nutritionally adequate for all ages and providing healthful benefits in the prevention and treatment of many diseases (including heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer). There are also numerous physical benefits of a vegan diet, such as having more energy, a lower BMI, and healthier skin/teeth/nails. I highly recommend watching Forks Over Knives, a truly eye-opening documentary. Also, a great source of information on health and nutrition is the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine.
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Nearly every aspect of the enormous meat industry has an environmental consequence. Global warming is at the top of the list, creating more greenhouse gas than all methods of transportation combined. Eating a vegan diet is the most effective action we can take to prevent global warming, ease the strain on our Earth's limited resources, protect the planet from pollution, and save countless species from extinction. Check out this positive, uplifting video about the power of making vegan choices: A Life Connected.
FOR ANIMALS
Although 95% of people agree that it's wrong to cause unnecessary harm to animals, the vast majority of people still eat a diet full of meat, dairy, and/or eggs--all of which cause unnecessary harm to animals. Over 98% of meat/dairy/eggs come from factory farms, where animals are treated as mere commodities and are often horribly abused. You would probably be surprised by the very cruel routine practices on even the most "humane" farms. Did you know that the dairy industry is arguably the cruelest of them all? By going vegan we can each save up to 100 animals per year! For more information, check out http://www.chooseveg.com/
