Stand up for what you know deep down in your heart is right & go vegan.

As we head towards the end of 2017 & move into the brand new 2018, it’s that time of year when we start to evaluate our lives, what we learned from the year past & start setting some goals & aspirations for our year ahead.

It is no secret that veganism is on the rise, in fact, the number of vegans in the UK has risen by a whopping 360% in the past 10 years – wow!

There are so many reasons why veganism is the best decision you can make, why not try 2018 living cruelty free, here are some of the main reasons why you should give it a go;

  1. It’s cruel

Animals have feelings & emotions, just look at your relationship with your dog. The meat & dairy industry is completely cruelty & unnecessary. When you buy these products, you are funding animal abuse. Sorry guys, but happy chickens & happy cows? They don’t exist in the industry. Oh & humane slaughter? Give me a break. There is no way to humanely torture & kill an animal.

  1. You don’t need meat to survive

Otherwise me & all the other vegans you know are some kind of super-being? You do not need to eat meat to be healthy, full, or to enjoy food. Simple.

  1. You will feel better emotionally

Going to be every night knowing that you don’t fund any animal cruelty & you are making decisions that show love to our planet will help you sleep better. There is a lot of messed up stuff in this world, not being part of it is a great feeling. 

  1. You will feel better physically

Since transitioning to veganism I feel healthier, lighter & more energetic. Bright eyed & bushy-tailed, my vegan lifestyle takes credit for how much I managed to achieve last year 100%.

  1. Global Warming

Who else saw that depressing video of the polar bear starving to death captured by Nat Geo recently? Climate change is happening people, & that video is just one example of how much our decisions have an effect on our planet & everyone we share it with. & guess what one of the biggest causes is? Yep. Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. Feel bad for the polar bear? If you are not vegan you played a part.

  1. Being vegan is easy.

There is literally not better time to be vegan! With so many vegan alternatives entering our high street supermarkets, transition to veganism is so much easier than it used to be! Vegan cheese, vegan butter, vegan mock meats, vegan yoghurt, plant-based milks, vegan marshmallows – you name it you can get it.

  1. Dairy is gross

The dairy industry is one of the most messed up things in the world. Female cows are impregnated (against their will btw), give birth, have their babies dragged away from them, then live a sad life of just being pumped for their milk. Milk is also disgusting & not designed for humans – barf. Read my post about how cruel cow’s milk is here. 

  1. Meat eating is hypo critical

I’ve said it before & I will say it again. Why eat one & love another? What’s the difference between a puppy & a calf? Not much. In the words of Miley Cyrus ‘If you choose to eat meat, you love pets not animals.’ Love animals? Stop funding world-wide animal slaughter.

  1. Veganism is not expensive

This seems to be a re-occurring myth that being vegan is really expensive – trust me it’s not. Since when were veggies, beans, grains & fruit expensive? If you need some more inspo check out one of my fav blogs on a Plant based on a Budget for cheap but delicious recipes. 

  1. Animal habitat destruction

Did you know that animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution & habitat destruction? It isn’t just the dairy animals that suffer, animal habitats all over the world & being destroyed, animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction wiping out homes & killing the gorgeous, innocent animals in the forest – how depressing is that?

  1. Our oceans are dying

 Almost 3/4 of the world’s fisheries are exploited or depleted & scientists predict we could see fishless oceans by 2048. They also estimate that as many as 650,000 whales, dolphins & seals are killed every year by fishing vessels & around 40-50 million sharks killed in fishing lines & nets. Love our gorgeous ocean & wonderful marine life? Go vegan.

  1. Animals deserve to live

As a nature & animal lover I firmly believe that every single animal on this planet has the right to live free of suffering. Animals have emotions & personalities just like us – some are even as smart as us (& I would argue smarter than some people I know lol). But they do need our help. We have a responsibility to protect the vulnerable & be a voice for the voiceless. If you care about our planet & animals in any way, make a change, be part of this inspiring movement. Stand up for what you know deep down in your heart is right & go vegan. Jess xo

Photo:

Photo Credits to Amanda Clark of The Sanctuary Project. Through her stunning photography, she connects people to farm animals. 100% of proceeds from print purchases are donated to farm sanctuaries. Check our her inspiring work here & you can find her on Instagram @the_sanctuary_project 

References:
Cowspriracy
The Telegraph