Recently, James Aspey, world renowned vegan and animal rights activist, got into a heated discussion with a Christian man while James was speaking at an event. The whole argument that the man kept trying to make was that animals were created for his use. Often times when James presented the man with a sound response, the man would change his own argument, agree with James on many points, and then go right back to saying animals were created for his needs and nourishment. The whole exchange was interesting to me because I am a Christian, and I totally disagree with the man for several reasons.
Humans DO Not Need Animals for Nourishment
Everything we need, including protein, can be achieved by eating a plant based diet. There have been countless studies that show that by adopting a plant based diet people live longer, are healthier, happier, and less disease stricken. Research published by The National Center for Biotechnology concluded that "vegan diets seem to provide some added protection against obesity, hypertension, type-2 diabetes; and cardiovascular mortality."
In the Beginning
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food. And it was so." Genesis 1: 29-30 (NIV). When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, God commanded that they eat seeded fruit and green plants. Those were His words. To me, this says that this was God's original design, but after the fall of man, death and destruction became part of the natural life cycle. Predators killed prey, and the life of one living thing depended on the death of another. I believe veganism is closer to God's original plan and design.
Factory Farming and Slaughterhouses
It seems like every day there are countless stories, images, and articles about animal abuse and torture. Whistleblowers often record first hand accounts of the relentless abuse that animals endure for the sake of being food for humans. In a recent Compassion Over Killing (COK) undercover investigation at Mason Dixon Farms, gentle mother cows were violently abused. Uncover footages shows: cows being kicked in the face, punched in their udders, continuously shocked with an electric prod, jabbed with pens and elbows, and having their tails painfully twisted or bent by workers. Because of their hazardous living conditions, they were also repeatedly getting stuck on water troughs or inside stalls. People can continue to make the argument of "animals were put here for our use" all they want, but use does not equal abuse. I think it is great when I see seeing eye dogs being eyes for their owners, or pets providing therapy and making people's lives better by bringing happiness and joy to families. I certainly don't think the God whom I love and in whom I believe, the God of love and compassion, is pleased with animal cruelty, slaughterhouses, or factory farming where these types of atrocities occur every day behind closed doors. These animals are living, breathing creatures with feelings and emotions. They experience joy and pain. They have families, but sadly often times they don't have a voice. "The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Proverb 12:10 (NIV) Please share your views below!
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Several weeks ago when I went through the drive thru at Chick-fil-A on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta, I was given this card with my receipt. I briefly glanced at it and took a closer look at it when I got home. As a vegan, the options on this card did nothing for me. I placed the card in the door of my car and forgot about it. As my daughter and I were running errands this afternoon, I glanced at the card and had an idea. I decided to call my local Chick-fil-A and see if they would accommodate for a vegan. It was worth a shot. I spoke to a manager named Brandon. I told him I received the card and explained that I am vegan and asked if I could switch an item on the card for a vegan option on the menu. He asked me to come by the store. A few minutes later, he came out and handed me two of these cards. I am very grateful that he took the time to do this for my daughter and I. I was truly impressed. Since I had such a great experience. I called the North Point Parkway location as well to see what would happen. I received the card below in the mail from that location for the same promotion. This photo shows the back of the card. The front of the card shows a chicken biscuit, sausage biscuit, or egg white sandwich. So...I called the North Point location, asked to speak to a manager, and I told him about the card I had received in the mail. I told him I am vegan and asked if I could substitute a vegan item for an item on the card. He quickly recommended a wrap. I asked him if the flatbread is vegan. He asked me to call back in five minutes while he checked. When I called back, a girl answered the phone. Before I could explain anything she stated, "He said the flatbread is not vegan friendly." That was it. No trying to offer a fruit cup or fries or anything. He just had the employee relay the message. So, I said, "Okay, thanks." That was it. Although they would not offer a vegan substitute for a non-vegan one, this was not a total loss. While on the phone with the manager initially, he asked me several questions about being vegan, asked me how long I had been vegan, and had me to specifically define what vegan meant. I was able to share information, and maybe in the future when they do customer promotions, they will put a variety of items on the card to cater to all of their customers! When searching for vegan options at a non-vegan restaurant, have you ever had any memorable or interesting experiences? Share your story below! Well, folks...I MADE IT. I recently celebrated my one year anniversary since becoming vegan February 2016. It was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made. I can truly say it has been an amazing vegan journey of learning, discovering new foods and creating recipes, and sharing as much as I can with as many people as I can. There are three things I have learned during this past year. You Will Get Asked Many Questions About Being Vegan I think I have been asked every question under the sun regarding my decision to be vegan. People have questioned me and tried to challenge me as well. Unhealthy, junk-eating, carnivores suddenly become nutrition experts and try to tell you how being vegan isn't "healthy." The best thing you can do is educate them with the facts, talk about things like nutrition, factory farming, slaughterhouses, etc. I became vegan for ethical reasons. The vegan health benefits are an added bonus! And yes, vegans eat plenty of plant based protein. That brings me to the next thing I learned. There are MANY Vegan Sources of Protein When I was putting together recipes on my blog, I was amazed at how many of my vegan recipes have over 10 grams of protein per serving. From vegan tacos to vegan pizza, the protein is packed! Other sources of vegan protein include: tofu, lentils, almonds, peanut butter, avocados, spinach, broccoli, kale, brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, green beans, veggie burgers, etc. I could keep going for a while! This is the absolute number one misconception people have about food. There are a vast number of people that still think meat from animals is the only way they can get their protein. Boy, are they wrong! Becoming Vegan Was Not a Hard Process
Lastly, People often tell me they could never give up milk, or cheese, or bacon. They ask me how it was so easy for me. After watching a documentary that showed baby chicks being thrown alive into a grinder, I was speechless. Many egg farmers grind male baby chicks to death. Why? Because they are deemed "useless" to the egg industry. They are too small to be profitable to raise for meat and unable to lay eggs. So, millions are thrown into high-speed grinders that are similar to woodchippers. It was images like this and other footage showing factory farm undercover footage of chickens, cows, pigs, etc. being severely abused and slaughtered. That was enough for me. This year has been phenomenal, and I look forward to more learning, more recipes, more product reviews, and sharing more information with my friends, family, and followers on social media. Stay tuned!
I have always considered myself to be healthy and fit. I was an athlete growing up and throughout college. I consistently worked out, and I was in the gym regularly. My diet consisted of mostly fruits and vegetables, and I ate turkey, fish, chicken, and dairy as well. I rarely ate fried food or junk food. I had pretty much maintained my weight....until I became pregnant with my daughter. I gained 70 lbs during my pregnancy!
By the grace of God, I had no complications during my pregnancy. I didn't develop pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes. I walked daily on the treadmill up until a week before I gave birth, and I delivered a healthy, beautiful daughter the day after my birthday! Following the pregnancy, I had a huge health scare. My husband and I were out running errands, and I blacked out and woke up in an ambulance. I was suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and sleep deprivation. That wake up call fueled my mission to get back in shape.
It took me 11 months, and I lost all of the weight I had gained during the pregnancy. I did home workouts and restricted my calories and saw results. I thought I was doing great with my diet and nutrition other than occasional digestive problems that I would have. And then things changed. Around January of 2016 the digestive problems got worse, and I started developing aggravating patches of bumps on my hands and face. They would appear and disappear constantly.
This photo was taken February 17, 2016
This photo was taken May 26, 2016, approx three months later.
I was browsing through Netflix, and I found the documentary, Vegucated, and watching that documentary is one of thereasons why I am vegan today. I have been vegan since February 2016, and I quickly noticed remarkable differences. Does being vegan clear your skin? The answer for me is a definite yes. As you can see from the photo above, the mysterious rash disappeared, and I have not had any more of these outbreaks. I have not had any digestive problems since I stopped eating meat and dairy. After becoming vegan I lost twelve pounds in the first three months. My quick tips for vegan weight loss are educate yourself, keep it simple, and stick to your plan.
From easy, plant based meal plans to vegan workouts, there is so much great vegan nutrition and weight loss information out there. My skin definitely improved, and I will do a post soon about my favorite vegan makeup and vegan skin care products as well.
I feel great, and from time to time people tell me that my skin glows! I agree! I am enjoying educating myself on all things vegan, I love creating and trying new recipes for myself and my family, and I have created and joined some amazing, informative, and educational vegan forums and groups.
Before and After After becoming vegan and starting The Sensible Vegan, I was contacted by Health Magazine. I was honored to have my vegan story featured. I was really getting into a great fitness routine and felt healthy and strong. I had a photo shoot with the magazine, and three weeks later tragedy struck. I was rear ended in a car accident and ended up having to have shoulder surgery. Three weeks after my surgery I was rear ended again!
The recovery from the surgery was grueling. I went through extensive physical therapy, and eventually made a full recovery. I relied on my faith, and I truly believe that my vegan lifestyle attributed to my turn around. Even after this setback, I was contacted by Woman's World Magazine and was featured in a story where Dr. Oz highlighted some of my nutrition tips.
I continue to learn more and more each day about veganism and animal advocacy, and I enjoy experimenting with ingredients and creating new vegan recipes. Stay tuned for more updates in the future!
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I considered myself to be a healthy eater. No fried foods, sodas, junk food, red meat, etc. I felt really good about my eating habits. I've always been an avid researcher, and I love reading about nutrition and watching documentaries. I was looking for food documentaries on Netflix, and I stumbled across a documentary called Vegucated. After watching this movie, my eating habits were never the same. The movie chronicles the food journey of three meat and cheese eating New Yorkers after they agreed to go on a Vegan diet for six weeks. If you have Netflix, you should definitely check it out. After watching this documentary, I immediately choose to become Vegan for a few reasons:
Two Words: Animal Cruelty
When I was a meat eater, I guess I never really thought about the whole "this animal had to be killed first" process. When I saw the scenes of what occurs in slaughter houses, I was done with meat. Instantly. The movie showed some undercover, whistle-blower footage, and it was very hard to watch. The relentless abuse that was depicted was utterly shocking. I've already heard, more times than I can count, the excuse "God made animals for man to eat." However, I don't think God would condone the abuse and violence that was bestowed upon the animals He created.
GMOs: They're Everywhere!
GMOs are "genetically modified organisms." Most people I talk to have never even heard of GMOs, but they eat them every day. Basically, genetic engineering methods were used to create different crops which are both pesticide and insect-resistant against specific pests. Approximately 90% of all corn and soybeans that are consumed in the United States are genetically modified. The DNA in these crops has literally been altered so that when a farmer sprays an entire field with herbicides, the weeds die leaving the crop alive. I will address the dangers of GMOs in a future blog.
Plant-based Diet: Amazing Benefits
Numerous studies have been conducted by the nation's leading physicians and health scientists on the benefits of a plant-based diet. In the movie, Vegucated, all of the participants experienced weight loss, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure levels, and several other positive health outcomes. They all made major improvements in their overall health when they excluded meat and dairy from their diets. According to The Permanente Journal, "the major benefits for patients who decide to start a plant-based diet are the possibility of reducing the number of medications they take to treat a variety of chronic conditions, lower body weight, decreased risk of cancer, and a reduction in their risk of death from ischemic heart disease."
Helping Myself and the Environment
Before I became a Vegan, I would notice patches of mysterious little bumps on my hands, fingers, arms, and sometimes my face. They were extremely uncomfortable and itchy. Aloe and coconut oil helped to alleviate the itchiness, but I still did not know why they kept returning. I also experience different digestive problems that made me feel miserable.
Now, the patch of seven has dwindled to two, and all of the ones on my fingers and face have disappeared. I have also dropped 10 lbs since I stopped eating meat and dairy. My skin is definitely looking and feeling better, and the digestive problems are a thing of the past. I am VERY happy about that!
I can say that my Vegan journey has been amazing, and every day I am learning, researching, and uncovering more information, tips, recipes, reviews, and news that I look forward to sharing. This has definitely been one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only am I helping the environment, I am truly helping myself and my family as well!
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About Tabatha JamesTabatha James is a wife, mom, and children's book author navigating her way through a vegan way of life! Vegan Archives
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