A
vegan (VEE-gun) is a person who consumes only plant foods such as vegetables,
grains, legumes (beans and peas), fruits, nuts, and seeds. Vegans avoid all
animal foods including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk, butter, and
honey.
Veganism, the strictest form of vegetarianism,
is part of a cruelty-free lifestyle. Practicing vegans reject the inhumane
treatment and wanton slaughter of millions of animals for food or clothing. Fur,
leather, wool, and down are among the products that vegans shun, as well as,
cosmetics and chemical products tested on animals.
There are many reasons why people adopt a vegan
diet. One of the most compelling reasons is the health hazards associated with
meat-eating. Consumption of animal food is linked to an increased risk of heart
disease and certain types of cancer. By contrast, vegetarian diets are
associated with a decrease risk of obesity, circulatory and heart disease, lung
cancer, diabetes, hypertension, gallstones, and alcoholism.
For more information about veganism, check out
our Vegan Resources
page.
