The evidence points overwhelmingly to a positive effect on the human body and the environment. So going vegan was not only an ethical decision, but also a decision based on health, the environment and climate change. It’s important we acknowledge that the animal agriculture system has a multi-faceted impact and understand the intersection of these current global issues and why opting out of purchasing animal products is important for a sustainable future. Now that we live in a time where position statements made by the likes of the American Dietetic Association confirms that ‘Vegan diets are safe and healthful for all stages of life’ it takes out the uncertainty that once use to surround veganism.
- ANIMALS
53 billion land animals are killed for human consumption annually, minimum. Most are kept inside inhumane factory farms. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for the year 2003.
109 million metric tonnes of marine life is caught for human consumption annually. https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10244. This approximates to 90 billion sea animals (from small fish to whales).
- ANTIBIOTIC RESISTENCE
80% of all antibiotics produced in the USA is used on livestock. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4638249/
Salmonella poisoning from contaminated foods has increased in Victoria 50% since 2012. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/downloads/daily_reports/rptVS_SNIDSVictorianSalmonellosisSummary_GR.pdf
84% raw chicken is contaminated with Campylobacter and 22% is contaminated with Salmonella.
http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2014/12/04/4142326.htm
Livestock production is associated with the emergence of microbes which are resistant to multiple antibiotics (superbugs).
“Apocalypse Pig: The Last Antibiotic Begins to Fail”. 21 November 2015.
- REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Going vegan is the “single biggest way” to reduce your impact on the earth and to save the planet.
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6392/987
Raising livestock contributes 18% of global emissions. This is more than all the cars, trucks, ships, trains, planes and any other transport on the planet.
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html
Animal agriculture is the leading cause of loss of biodiversity on the planet and one of the leading causes of water pollution.
Steinfeld, Henning; Gerber, Pierre; Wassenaar, Tom; Castel, Vincent; Rosales, Mauricio; de Haan, Cees (2006), Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options (PDF), Rome: FAO
Meat is the leading cause of the current sixth mass extinction.
Machovina, B.; Feeley, K. J.; Ripple, W. J. (2015). “Biodiversity conservation: The key is reducing meat consumption”. Science of the Total Environment. 536: 419–431. Bibcode:2015ScTEn.536..419M. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.022. PMID 26231772.
It takes seven kilograms of grain to produce one kilo of beef.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/45ed/8b16a03656d2eacfcede582bd1b4d0f08738.pdf
56% of Australian continent is dedicated to livestock (cattle and sheep) grazing of native or modified pastures.
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/aclump/Documents/Land_use_in_Australia_at_a_glance_2006.pdf
Agriculture is the direct driver of approximately 80% of tropical rainforest destruction.
Kissinger, G., M. Herold, V. De Sy (2012). Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation: A Synthesis Report for REDD+ Policymakers. Lexeme Consulting, Vancouver Canada, August 2012, 48 p.
70-80% of the amazon rainforest has been cleared for animal agriculture
Boucher, D., Elias, P., Lininger, K., May-Tobin, C., Roquemore, S., & Saxon, E. (2011). The root of the problem: what’s driving tropical deforestation today?. The root of the problem: what’s driving tropical deforestation today?
Animal agriculture uses 70% of the worlds fresh water
Feeding a Thirsty World: Challenges and opportunities for a water and food secure future, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) (2012)
- HEALTH
Vegans have a greater life expectancy than non-vegans.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2540540
Vegan diets are more effective for weight loss than vegetarian or omnivorous diets.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25592014
Vegans/vegetarians have reduced rates of death from ischemic heart disease; and decreased incidence of hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers than do non-vegans.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21139125
Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12778049
High dairy intake is linked to increased risk of bone fracture and early mortality.
http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6015
The number one source of saturated fat is dairy.
“Top Food Sources of Saturated Fat in the U.S.” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dairy is linked to prostate and breast cancer.
“Risk factors for prostate cancer”. Canadian Cancer Society
Egg consumption is linked with Atherosclerosis.
http://www.med.mcgill.ca/epidemiology/hanley/c609/articles/EggyolkPlaqueSmoking.pdf
World Health Organisation report has classified bacon and sausage as carcinogenic to humans.
One serving of processed meat per day increased risk of diabetes by 51%.