Impact of Veganism on Environment & Ecosystem
Veganism is the practice of not using any animal derivatives for the production of eatables, supplements, etc. A diet that comprises only plant-based ingredients is known as a Vegan Diet. Nutritional experts believe that people who consume only a vegan diet tend to be less vulnerable to problems like:
- High blood pressure
- An increased level of cholesterol
- Obesity
- Heart diseases
- Kidney issues
- Hormonal imbalance
- Antibiotic resistance
Besides its impact on health, veganism also influences the environment and ecosystem. It is one of the primary factors that affect the survival of domestic animals. Switching to vegan opens the door to the prevention of livestock. Also, it contributes to decreasing the chance of species extinction.
Saving Earth’s Resources
Since vegan people follow a plant-based meal, they resonate with the concept of saving the earth’s essential resources. These include the following.
- A vegan diet aids in combating world hunger. This is because a greater quantity of grain is utilized in feeding livestock. Moreover, farmlands are occupied and set apart to raise animals.
- Problems like pollution, overfishing, and deforestation occur with an increased demand for animal products. The occupied lands, if used for crop production, can help manage the world hunger situation.
- The overuse of energy and other valuable resources in supporting the livestock’s survival may lead to drastic environmental loss. Environmentalists study the same and predict the need for veganism due to this reason.
- Just like livestock can pollute water, it can also cause soil degradation and erosion. That’s because of the deforestation done to free the land for animals.
As per a report published in the National Library of Medicine, an increased intake of animal products was linked to a negative influence on the ecosystems.
Environmental Issues caused by Animal Products
People may think that eating animal products and derivatives increases just health problems. However, issues like the greenhouse effect and wildlife loss due to animal production go unnoticed. It is said that eating animal products also increases the risk of biodiversity extinction.
Below are the environmental effects caused by animal products:
- Water pollution
- Food shortages
- Air pollution due to the greenhouse effect
- Overconsumption of energy resources
- Deforestation
- Soil degradation and overgrazing
All in all, the entire ecosystem is being taken for granted for grazing animals and managing factory farms. This results in the increasing area of deserts and barren land. With such a vast environmental footprint, many nutritionists advise the consumption of plant-based foods. In fact, advancements in the food and nutraceutical industry have provided healthy alternatives to animal-derived foods. Switching to vegan foods remains the healthiest choice for leading an environment-safe life.