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Veganism: understand what it is, how to adhere and care you need to have

Veganism is a lifestyle that seeks to rethink all consumption habits. In food, items of animal origin such as meat, milk, eggs and honey are not consumed; but it doesn’t stop there. Veganism is an ethical way of life that seeks to deny speciesism (the idea that humans are superior) and seek a world without animal, human and environmental exploitation. Follow:

History of Veganism

It is not possible to state precisely the date when the talk about veganism started, but some articles by historians can help us to make considerations about the history of the movement.

According to the article by Márcia Pimentel Magalhães and José Carlos de Oliveira, at the end of the 18th century, there was a great movement towards vegetarian food. The members were inspired by readings by Pythagoras, Plutarch and other philosophers, in which the affirmation that animal exploitation brutalizes the human character stood out.

Still according to these historians, in the 19th century, a doctor wrote a book about the health benefits of vegan food. In the 20th century, the Vegan Society was founded in 1944. The group’s creator, Donald Watson, also created the newspaper “The Vegan News” to disseminate information about veganism.

In the 70s, the demonstration began to gain even more strength and began to be characterized as a movement for animal liberation. Since then and until the present day, the movement has gained more and more strength and supporters.

Veganism in Brazil

In Brazil, in 1921, there was the first initiative to create a Vegetarian Society, but there was no continuity. The Brazilian Vegetarian Society (SBV) was founded only in 2003. It is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote vegetarian food as an ethical and sustainable choice.

According to a survey carried out by IBOPE in 2018, about 14% of the Brazilian population declares itself as vegetarian. The survey also showed that there was a 75% growth in the number of vegetarians in metropolitan regions between 2012 and 2018.

How does veganism work?

Veganism is not a diet, but an ethic about a way of life. Therefore, in addition to paying attention to what you can and cannot eat, you also need to pay attention to your consumption habits in general. Some care can be taken in this process so that your transition is smooth and conscious. Check out:

What should I and what shouldn’t I eat

Any food that is not of animal origin and does not have any form of animal exploitation involved is consumed. Animal products are excluded from the diet. This includes meats, animal milks, eggs, honey and any other derivative that comes from animals. It may seem difficult at first, but as time goes on, you will find good substitutes for all of these foods.

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In addition to animal derivatives, vegan people also do not consume products from companies that carry out tests, animal traction or sponsor rodeos, for example. Many companies have products that do not have ingredients of animal origin, but are somehow involved in exploitation. In this case, it is also something to watch out for when you are a fan of veganism.

What should I and what shouldn’t I consume

Just as vegan food excludes everything that may have animal derivatives or exploitation, the same happens with everything that is consumed. This includes cosmetics, cleaning products, clothes, shoes, in short, everything you use in your daily life. In addition, vegans also do not go to zoos and other attractions with animals.

The sustainable consumption agenda is also completely linked to veganism. Therefore, vegans generally seek to consume everything they use with an ethical stance aligned with small producers and companies that are aware of the environmental agenda. After all, in addition to animal exploitation, vegans are also against human and environmental exploitation, boycotting companies that do not present values ​​consistent with this.

5 precautions I should take when joining veganism

  1. Read the labels: knowing the names of the animal components gives you autonomy to make choices; Also, get information from reliable sources about it.
  2. Plan your purchases: both to have more practicality in your daily life and to save money, plan exactly what and how much you need to buy. Prefer to shop weekly, to avoid waste.
  3. Prioritize local production: don’t be fooled by marketing in the food industry; eating well, without food of animal origin and with economy is possible. For this, whenever possible, prefer natural and locally produced foods.
  4. Cook more: in addition to saving money, you will have a different relationship with food when cooking. Plus, you can also show your non-vegan friends how delicious vegan food is.
  5. Keep a varied menu: frequent the fairs in your city to discover new foods and find out which vegetables and fruits are in season, in addition to planning your meals in a variety of ways. Thus, eating becomes more pleasurable, healthy and less repetitive. Remember that vegan food is not limited and you can eat everything, as long as there is no animal exploitation.

These were some tips for you to better plan your food. With practicality, flavor, well-being and without animal exploitation!

Why become vegan?

The main motivation for becoming vegan is to fight against speciesism, that is, to avoid animal exploitation. There are also several other reasons, such as environmental preservation and healthy living. So, with the help of vegan nutritionist Raquel Riccomini, we list the benefits of this lifestyle below:

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7 benefits of vegan eating

  1. All vegetarian diets, including vegan, are healthy: “The American Dietetic Association, in its position on vegetarian diets published in 2009, states that they are healthy and suitable for all stages of life,” says Raquel. Veganism is suitable during pregnancy, lactation, childhood, senility and also for athletes. In addition, it can bring health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.
  2. Better intestinal health and microbiota balance: according to the nutritionist, this is an essential factor for a healthy life and which, in itself, already prevents many diseases.
  3. Reduction in the risk of developing cancer: mainly gastrointestinal cancers – due to the health promoted by plant-based diets – and, to a lesser extent, breast cancer.
  4. It is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant diet: the regular intake of fruits and vegetables has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect on the body, preventing various diseases and preventing premature aging.
  5. Good post-workout muscle recovery: athletes are increasingly adhering to veganism due to the great performance obtained from plant-based diets.
  6. Controls blood glucose and cholesterol: Vegan food helps prevent insulin resistance and thus prevents diabetes. It also improves the lipid profile by controlling cholesterol.
  7. It provides protection to the cardiovascular system: therefore, it brings a lower risk of heart disease.

These are just a few health benefits of vegan eating. To take advantage of them, it is necessary to have a diet “rich in natural or minimally processed foods (vegetables, beans, whole grains, natural seasonings, fruits, seeds…) and in adequate proportions”, guides Raquel.

In addition, it is necessary to avoid products that are harmful to health. “If a person has a diet rich in processed foods and fried foods and is not concerned about their lifestyle (smokers, consumes alcoholic beverages in excess, does not practice physical activity regularly, sleeps poorly, lives under stress and anxiety…), they will not be able to take advantage of the benefits that a diet rich in plants can bring”, warns the nutritionist.

Is it expensive to be vegan?

It’s not expensive to be vegan, but the industry and the way society operates can give us that impression. Having access to information includes having time to research and having access to the internet. In addition, only those who can choose what they eat can be vegan. If you are reading this article, you probably meet these conditions.

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Veganism seems to be expensive because, as it is increasingly widespread, many companies see it as a market opportunity. So there are more and more vegan packaged products, even if the companies behind them aren’t interested in vegan ethics. In addition, these products, most of the time, have a very high value and not accessible at all.

But, against these and other issues, there are several profiles on social networks that demystify and uncomplicate veganism. To name a few: Vegano Periférico, Sandra Guimarães and Sapa Vegana. In addition to the issue of peripheral veganism, these profiles relate other activism to veganism, such as the LGBTQIA+ issue, anti-racism, feminism, among others.

How to become vegan: step by step to live more ethically

If you are in the process of transitioning to veganism, we have brought you tips that can help you in the process. Check it out below:

  • Try to have balanced meals: if possible, receive guidance from specialized nutritionists.
  • Try to have a healthy lifestyle: drink enough water, practice physical activity and control stress; those are some important points.
  • Have a natural-based diet: avoid processed and fast food whenever possible. “With the emergence of so many industrialized vegan options (vegetable meats, vegan cheeses, ice cream and desserts, frozen products) and fast food, it is important to emphasize that these products should not be part of the food routine. The basis of food must be natural, if there is a concern to maintain a good quality of health”, stresses nutritionist Raquel.
  • Inform yourself with safe and reliable sources: look for sites that bring relevant information about veganism and recipes that serve your routine. In Brazil, we have the Brazilian Vegetarian Society, Vista-se, Casa Veg, Vegetarian Ham, among others.
  • Understand and align with the reasons that support your lifestyle change: In the beginning, it won’t be easy, which is why aligning with your reasons will support your change. For what reasons did you decide to opt for veganism? Think of them to motivate yourself and stay strong!
  • Look for trained professionals to ensure a good routine assessment: many health professionals are not trained to care for vegans, either due to lack of information or prejudice. So, if possible, look for professionals who understand veganism and can conduct your routine assessment.
  • Have friends and people around you who support or are vegan/vegetarian: if you already have these people around, great! But if you want to meet new people, look for groups on social media; surely, they will be happy to welcome you!
  • Watch out for non-food products that can be…

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