The Ethics of A Plant Based Diet

September 16, 2018. This is the day my life changed forever. It’s the day I chose to stop consuming animal and dairy products. Initially, it was going to be for a seven-day period. Seven days turned into two weeks. Two weeks turned into a month. A month turned into six.

At this point, I don’t see myself ever going back to the way I was eating which included animal products, dairy and processed junk food.

The benefits are so evident, I would be a fool to go back to the inflammation, joint pain, excess (unhealthy) weight, always feeling bloated, midafternoon energy slumps, slow recovering time after a long run, and cruelty to animals due to eating factory farmed animals.

What is a WFPB Diet?

Let’s start with what I consider to be a whole food, plant-based diet (WFPB). My emphasis is on a diet void of animal and dairy products. I was introduced to this way of eating through the works of Dr. Joel Fuhrman. In his book, Eat to Live, the protocol he writes (and speaks) about made complete sense to me.

My diet consists of plants, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts, which make up the majority of what I eat.

Inevitably, the first question most people have is, “What about protein.” In reality, a well-rounded, WFPB diet has plenty of protein. When you consume beans, legumes, chia and flaxseed, greens, and nuts, you are getting a good dose of protein. This article has a detailed list of where you get your protein from in a WFPB diet.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321474.php

Manufactures Lied

Keep in mind, much of what we’ve been led to believe about our need for protein derived from meat and dairy is a result of massive marketing campaigns funded by these industries. In a nutshell, we’ve been lied to… on a massive scale.

With the onslaught of information available online that pulls back the cover on the reality of what animal and dairy products do to us, we can now make more objective decisions on what is, and is not, healthy to consume.

When you dig deep into the way most animals are factory farmed in the food supply process, it doesn’t take much to determine this is likely the most inhumane, cruel and unhealthy way to get our food. And if you believe that everything is energy, imagine the energy you are putting in your body with the terror, fear, pain and substandard conditions many animals go through in factory farms.

Educate Yourself

Each person must decide for themselves what ethical eating is and is not. Yet, to make the most appropriate choice, it helps to gain as much information as possible.

Since going plant based, I have done a lot of research. Granted, I am far from a bona-fide expert, but I do know that putting any type of factory farmed animal product in my system has a negative impact on my personal ecosystem.

One organization committed to raising awareness is Mercy For Animals. On their website there is a lot of great information as to what really happens during the process of farming animals. https://mercyforanimals.org/

One short YouTube video that has impacted millions is from Erin Janus called Dairy is Scary. Fair warning. This video is SHOCKING, DISTURBING AND HARD TO WATCH. But… once you do, you will likely be hard pressed to ever want dairy again. https://youtu.be/UcN7SGGoCNI

Real Benefits

Between the health benefits and the benefits to the welfare of animals, it’s not difficult at all for me to stay the course with a whole food, plant-based diet. Again, we each have to decide for ourselves what we is acceptable, ethical and in alignment with who we believe ourselves to be.

If we say we want to live a life of optimal health, are we doing all possible to make that happen. Are the short-term choices giving us long term benefit?

If we say we believe in compassion to animals, what is our choice around consumption of animal products? Is the choice in alignment with the claim of compassion?

You decide with every bite of food you take.