Have you ever wondered why so many people are lactose intolerant? That’s not a personal issue, it’s a health issue.  According to the Mayo Clinic, three million people in the U.S. get sick from eating yogurt, drinking milk with cereal, eating cheese, or putting creamer in coffee. This is because milk is not meant for human consumption, and neither is the calf. These people’s bodies are unable to produce the enzyme that allows them to consume lactose, a sugar found in dairy.There are also people who can’t have the A1 beta casein protein. In addition to this, studies show that hormones in animal products are increasing the early onset of adolescent puberty, including an early development of the menstrual cycle, acne, and prostate cancer; and it’s all because, as humans, they were never meant to consume it.

By mass producing dairy products, we are taking away the natural milk meant for the calves. Farmers forcefully impregnate cows for the purpose of milk production. Once a pregnant cow gives birth, she and her calf are separated so that her milk can be taken for human consumption. Female dairy calves are raised to replace their mothers, whereas bull calves are useless to the dairy industry. Within 48 hours, the bull calves are killed for human consumption, unless they are milk-fed for up to 20 weeks for the purpose of veal.

McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Outback Steakhouse, are just a few of the many chain restaurants who serve meat for some of their main dishes. Because of the huge meat demand in America, over 56 billion farm animals are killed each year for the use of human consumption. That means that over 56 billion animals are being tortured, abused, and harried, over the misinformed belief that humans ‘need meat’ to survive.

By being vegan or vegetarian, you can reduce that number. According to PETA, 198 animals are saved each year for each person who chooses a vegan diet. Fewer animals are “produced” to be slaughtered which means that the number of animals being slaughtered will drop, causing the prices of meat to go up. Not only is the number of animals killed being reduced, but being vegan is also a healthy diet.

“The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported in 2009 that vegan diet followers tend to have lower body weights, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol. It also found that vegan individuals consumed more fiber, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium and less saturated fat. Results from studies where plant-based diet have been used as interventions for weight loss and cardiovascular risks support this.” – Cooking Light. Being meat and dairy-free also decreases the risk of health malfunctions, such as diabetes.

Being vegan is also a great way to keep the environment a better place to live. According to PETA, “Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, together cause the vast majority of global warming. Producing a little more than two pounds of beef causes more greenhouse-gas emissions than driving a car for three hours and uses up more energy than leaving your house lights on for the same period of time. According to the United Nations, a global shift toward a vegan diet is one of the steps necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change”.

So, by being meat/dairy-free, you can make not only yourself feel good but the world a better place!

For more information on Veganism visit these handy dandy sites!

• https://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/nutrition-101/is-veganism-healthy
• http://woodstocksanctuary.org/learn/animals-used-for-food/cows-for-dairy/
• https://www.peta.org/