Veganism

While my blog posts will focus on my vegan experience in Southwest Florida I found the following article on Wikipedia very interesting and jammed packed with facts, including references to the negative aspects of veganism. I will reference again the documentary "What the Health" for a more positive outlook on veganism as well as pointing out the dangers of meat and poultry production in this country.

Veganism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganism) is both the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.^[b] A follower of either the diet or the philosophy is known as a vegan(/ˈviːɡən/ VEE-gən). Distinctions are sometimes made between several categories of veganism. Dietary vegans (or strict vegetarians) refrain from consuming animal products, not only meat but also eggs, dairy products and other animal-derived substances.^[c] The term ethical vegan is often applied to those who not only follow a vegan diet but extend the philosophy into other areas of their lives, and oppose the use of animals for any purpose.^[d] Another term is environmental veganism, which refers to the avoidance of animal products on the premise that the harvesting or industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging and unsustainable.^[17]

Donald Watson coined the term vegan in 1944 when he co-founded the Vegan Society in England. At first he used it to mean "non-dairy vegetarian", but from 1951 the society defined it as "the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals".^[18] Interest in veganism increased in the 2010s. More vegan stores opened, and vegan options became increasingly available in supermarkets and restaurants in many countries.^[19]

Vegan diets tend to be higher in dietary fibre, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron and phytochemicals, and lower in dietary energy, saturated fat, cholesterol, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc and vitamin B₁₂.^[e] Well-planned vegan diets can reduce the risk of some types of chronic disease, including heart disease.^[21] They are regarded as appropriate for all stages of the life-cycle by the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.