Let's get started

Before I get into the nitty gritty of the story behind those spare ribs on your plate, I want lay out some of the benefits of adopting a healthy vegan diet. Healthy is the key word here because you can certainly consume a vegan diet full of junky foods. Remember that Fritos and Sour Patch Kids are both considered vegan!

So here we go (and this is by no means an exhaustive list...)
1. Reduced intake of saturated fats (you know, the crap that clogs your arteries and leads to heart attacks?)
2. Higher intake of fiber
3. Increased intake of phytochemicals and antioxidants found primarily in plant-based foods.
4. Optimal intake of protein (no, you don't need to eat meat to get enough protein; consumption of meat can lead to excessive amounts of protein intake which, among other things, can drain calcium from your bones).
5. Decreased rates of heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, macular degeneration, arthritis, osteoporosis,  and many forms of cancer.
6. Weight loss (if needed).
7. Increased energy (and, personally, I've noticed a sense of calm since I stopped eating meat that wasn't there before).
8. Stronger hair and nails; clearer skin.
9. Decrease in PMS symptoms (come on ladies, that's reason enough!), allergies, and migraines.
10. Reduced animal suffering.
11. Much needed help for the environment (this is a huge factor as factory farming is the leading cause of environmental pollution and climate change right now, not the kind of car you drive or the plastic bags you put your groceries in).
12. Reduced chance of getting food related illnesses (E. coli; campylobactor; salmonella).
13. More food for everyone (did you know that 80% of the corn grown in this country is for livestock? yes, that's right, 80%).
14. Eliminate your consumption of hormones and antibiotics used on animals in today's factory farms.
15. All the cool people are doing it. :)

I could go on and on and I hope to convince you, with some of the arguments that convinced me, that going veg is the way to go!