Vegan Bites: Vegans Are Extreme
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Anyone who has been a vegan for a while knows it’s just old hat and there’s nothing extreme about it. In fact, it can get downright boring, particularly if you’re surrounded by ignorant omnivores who ask over and over again, “But where do you get your protein?” Sorry to the omnis reading this, but you know it’s true. We’re tired of that question.
But… we’ll answer it anyway, because you ought to know the truth: Vegan protein sources include tempeh, tofu, seitan, lentils, black beans, chickpeas, pinto beans, quinoa, TVP, sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, lima beans, veggie burgers, veggie dogs, black eyed peas, peanut butter, almond butter, soy milk, hemp milk, vegan protein powders, soy yogurt, fortified foods, amaranth, spirulina, chorella, split peas, whole wheat, and even potatoes have some protein! Here are some more detailed resources regarding vegan protein: veganhealth.org/articles/protein, ivu.org/faq/protein.html, vegan.org/FAQs/index.html, pcrm.org/health/veginfo/nutritionfaq.html#Protein, vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm
Back to the topic at hand: extremism. Are vegans really extreme or is the opposite the case? Take a look at these articles to help you decide for yourself who/ what is extreme:
- “I feel that going vegan is too extreme. Can’t I show my support for animal rights by eating vegetarian food most of the time and only eating free-range, organic animal products when I do eat them?” get the answer here >>
- “People who profit from animal exploitation like to call animal-rights advocates ‘extreme.’ But what’s extreme about not wanting to see animals suffer?” read more about how not being a vegan is extreme >>
- “Vegans don’t eat, wear or use animal products, or products tested on animals. Sure, it helps the animals and the environment, and enables more efficient use of global food and water resources, thereby saving human lives too. But no meat pies, no leather jackets, and no animal-tested lipstick?!? Surely vegans must endure grim and joyless lives of self-denial?” read more about Extreme Vegan Sports >>
- “Torture and death are extreme. Meat, fur, and animal testing involve both. Therefore, these actions should be considered extreme. Veganism bypasses all of this. Veganism opts out of exploitation, torture, and death. Veganism strives for compassion. Veganism is peace. Veganism is not extreme.” read more here >>
- “When you know that buying vegan products can eliminate your personal contribution to cruel practices, and when you know you can get both function and style with available vegan alternatives, then I think the pertinent question is really: ‘why not vegan?‘” read more about vegan clothing here >>
- “why the media continues to insist that veganism is ‘extreme’ and ‘out there on the fringe’ is beyond me. Is that really what people still think about veganism?” more here >>
Nice post!
Veganism isn’t extreme, its just morally consistent. Most people agree it is wrong to needlessly hurt others. Vegans are just a bit more consistent with this basic ethical principle.
Greens! You forgot to mention greens as a protein source! Go, greens!
That’s right, greens are also a source of protein! Also, whole grains!
Yea..greens are also a source of protein but plant protein is incomplete and you would need multiple sources to get the equivalent of just eating meat. I’m just saying. I’m not trying to pick a fight or anything.
Tallius, The human body’s design forms strings of “complete” protein from various amino acids acquired through various plant sources. It’s simple, easy, and natural. There is no reason to eat animals, particularly because eating animals comes at great cost: cost to animals (suffering and death), cost to human health (increased risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes), and cost to the environment (pollution, habitat destruction).
[cost to human health (increased risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes]
It is very much possible to get cancer/heart disease from excessive consumption of plant-based foods just as it is possible to get cancer from eating excessive amounts of meat but a well-balanced meal will reduce that risk so this is a moot point.
[Tallius, The human body’s design forms strings of “complete” protein from various amino acids acquired through various plant sources.]
That’s partially wrong. You’re on the right track but you got some information mixed up. The human body can produce 10 of the 18 essential amino acids just by synthesizing glucose. The 8 that it can’t produce is covered by consuming either a single source of meat, like eggs for instance, which has all 8 of the amino acids or eating multiple plant sources, as I’ve previously said. And you need multiple plant sources because neither one of them are “complete,” in the sense that any single plant will not give you all 8 of the amino acids, hence the necessity to consume more than one kind of plant to obtain all 8 amino acids. Otherwise, what you just said is an exact mirror of what I just said except with some details mixed up. Good job. You just made a tautology.
[cost to the environment (pollution, habitat destruction).]
Sorry, I’m unclear on this. Can you elaborate how killing animals cause pollution and habitat destruction?
[There is no reason to eat animals, particularly because eating animals comes at great cost: cost to animals (suffering and death)]
Can you elaborate on how the death of a cow is a great cost to humanity? Can you also elaborate on how the suffering of a cow is a great cost to humanity? I’d like to know your personal answers so that I may better address them. I do not wish to make assumptions about your position as a vegan because vegans hold many positions and beliefs. I’d just like to be clear on what you stand on as well as where you stand on various issues.
Tallius,
Re. cancer, heart disease, diabetes:
http://www.cancerproject.org/diet_cancer/facts/meat.php
http://www.thechinastudy.com/PDFs/ChinaStudy_Excerpt.pdf
or even
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/home_3979_ENU_HTML.htm
Re. protein:
http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/protein/
or even just http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_in_nutrition
Re. environment:
http://www.epa.gov/region07/water/cafo/cafo_impact_environment.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/cafos/about.htm
http://www.ncifap.org/
http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.htm
Re. ethics argument:
Premise 1 = Each animal is an individual who deserves the ability to pursue pleasure and avoid pain without unnecessary human interference. Said another way: causing unnecessary suffering is wrong.
Premise 2 = It is not necessary for humans to eat animal products. Eating animal products = causing unnecessary suffering.
Conclusion = Humans should be vegan.
or
If you don’t like premise 1, you can substitute the health or environmental reasons for veganism.
I just want to throw in there that eating a bunch of different vegetables is much healthier than eating a dead chicken. AND your body doesnt need to work nearly as hard to digestion them.
There are many MANY studies that prove omnivores have higher risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, and basically every illness. The reason for this is not only consuming the meat, but the way the meat was initailly obtained. Your not just eating a hamburger that was once a happy cow that would run around in the open medows until the day it died and became your dinner. Your eating a cow that was grown in a disgusting infested slaughter house filled with diseases and mistreatment. Most of these animals go through the most horrific “torture” so you can get your Big Mac. By tourture I mean how people who work at slaughter houses are not validictorians. They KILL ANIMALS FOR A LIVING. You think they care about the animals?! NO they dont, if you were to visit a slaughter house you would experience the horrific sounds of animals screaming for being scalped alive, most of these animals arn’t paralyzed when they are supposed to be and feel everything that happens to them. Sorry I just thought you should know.
OH YEAH, AND… the next time you go to drink a nice cup of cold refreshing milk, there is blood and pus in it. Yes, there is. Its proven the FDA doesnt deny it. Why do you think they advertise milk so much? It’s because they know if they dont people will realize that they honestly dont need it, and it is just making them fat.