Vegans???? vegans???!
Why do Vegans think that they eat rainbows and poop butterflys!?!?!?!?!?!?!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Personally, I'd be rather alarmed if I pooped butterflies!.
Have you been taking Ashley's questions seriously!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Have you been taking Ashley's questions seriously!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Well, I DID eat a rainbow for breakfast, and there are a lot of butterflies in here but I'm gonna ask 'em all to leave cuz butter isn't vegan!. *sarcastic roll of my eyes*
Priya: At Answers, the idea is to answer the questions, not plagiarize Wikipedia!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Priya: At Answers, the idea is to answer the questions, not plagiarize Wikipedia!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Whatever I know several vegan/vegetarians who DO NOT think that way!. Leave 'em alone and maybe they'll leave us alone!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Why do you think that vegans think that they eat rainbows and poop butterflies!? You sound crazy man!.!.!. go to an asylum or something!.!.!. you're freaking me out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Because they are lacking the proper amount of protein needed to think clearly!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Cause they all funny and stuff!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose!.[1][2] Vegans do not use or consume animal products of any kind!.[3] The most common reasons for becoming a vegan are ethical commitment or moral convictions concerning animal rights, the environment, human health, and spiritual or religious concerns!.[4][5][2] Of particular concern are the practices involved in factory farming and animal testing, and the intensive use of land and other resources required for animal farming!.
Various polls have reported vegans to be between 0!.2%[4] and 1!.3%[6] of the U!.S!. population, and between 0!.25%[5] and 2!.24%[7] of the UK population!.
Vegan diets (sometimes called strict or pure vegetarian diets) are a subset of vegetarian diets, which are credited with lowering the risk of colon cancer, heart attack, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, and stroke!.[8] However, vegan diets can be low in levels of calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D!. Vegans are therefore encouraged to plan their diet and take dietary supplements as appropriate!.[9]
Contents [hide]
1 Definition
2 Demographics
2!.1 United States
2!.2 Europe
3 Animal products
4 Ethical concerns
5 Health
5!.1 Benefits
5!.2 Precautions
5!.2!.1 Specific nutrients
5!.2!.1!.1 Vitamin B12
5!.2!.1!.2 Calcium & Vitamin D
5!.2!.1!.3 Iodine
5!.2!.2 Pregnancies and children
5!.2!.3 Eating disorders
6 Resources and the environment
7 Similar diets and lifestyles
8 Cuisine
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
[edit] Definition
A variety of vegan ingredientsThe word vegan, pronounced /?vi?g?n/,[10] or /?v?d??n/[11], was originally derived from "vegetarian" in 1944 when Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson, frustrated that the term "vegetarianism" had come to include the eating of dairy products, founded the UK Vegan Society!.[12] They combined the first three and last two letters of vegetarian to form "vegan," which they saw as "the beginning and end of vegetarian!."[12][13] The British Vegan Society defines veganism in this way:
[T]he word "veganism" denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment!. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals!.[1]
Other vegan societies use similar definitions!.[14][15][16]
[edit] Demographics
Data regarding the number of vegans is available in some countries!.
[edit] United States
Former 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth!. Kucinich is known for his veganism and support of animal welfare!.[17]A 2002 Time/CNN poll found that 4% of American adults consider themselves vegetarians, and 5% of self-described vegetarians consider themselves vegans, which implies that 0!.2% of American adults are vegans!.[4] A 2006 poll conducted by Harris Interactive in the US listed specific foods and asked respondents to indicate which items they never eat, rather than asking respondents to self-identify!. The survey found that of the 1,000 adults polled, 1!.4% never eat meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products, or eggs and were therefore essentially vegan in their eating habits!. The survey also found that about 1!.4% of men and 1!.3% of women have vegan diets!.[6]
[edit] Europe
In 2002, the UK Food Standards Agency reported that 5% of respondents self-identified as vegetarian or vegan!. Though 29% of that 5% said they avoided "all animal products", only 5% reported avoiding dairy products!.[5] Based on these figures, approximately 0!.25% of the UK population follow a vegan diet!. In 2005, The Times estimated there were 250,000 vegans in Britain, which suggests around 0!.4% of the UK population is vegan!.[18] However, a 2007 survey for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into the UK population's attitudes and behaviour towards the environment found that 2!.24% of the population identified themselves as vegan!.[7] In the same study, vegetarians who did not also eat chicken or fish made up 2!.7% of the population!. The DEFRA study also indicated that slightly more men than women are vegan, that more vegans live in towns or cities than the country, and that people aged 16-29 were vegan more often than any other age group!.
Various polls and research conducted during the 1990s put the percentage of Swedish residents being vegan at between 0!.27% and 1!.6% of the entire population!.[19] A study of the eating patterns of 2,538 Swedish children of ages 4, 8 and 11 by the Swedish National Food Administration found that about 1% of the children were vegetarian, less than 1% were lacto-vegetarians, but found no children to be vegans!.[20] The website VeganWelt estimates there to be between 250,000 and 460,500 vegans in Germany, or between 0!.3% and 0!.5% of the German population!.[21] The Netherlands Association for Veganism estimates there to be approximately 16,000 vegans in the Netherlands, or around 0!.1% of the Dutch population!.[22]
[edit] Animal products
Main article: Animal product
The term "animal product" in a vegan context refers to any material derived from animals for human use!.[2] Notable animal products include meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products, honey, fur, leather, wool, and silk!.[3] Common animal by-products include gelatin, lanolin, rennet, whey, casein, beeswax, and shellac!.[3]
Animal ingredients can be found in countless products and are used in the production of—though not always present in the final form of—many more;[23][24][25] many of these ingredients are esoteric,[26][27] also have non-animal sources,[28] and especially in non-food products may not even be identified!.[23] Although some vegans attempt to avoid all these ingredients, Vegan Outreach argues that "it can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming to shun every minor or hidden animal-derived ingredient," and therefore that doing what is "best for preventing suffering" is more important than identifying and excluding every animal ingredient!.[29][30]
Although honey and silk are by definition animal products, some vegans consider their use and the use of other insect products to be acceptable!.[31]
[edit] Ethical concerns
Sows at an intensive pig farm!. Opposition to factory farming is one of the most common ethical reasons given for veganism!.[32]See also: Animal rights, Ethics of eating meat, and Factory farming
Vegan organisations maintain that animals have certain rights, and as such it is not ethical for humans to use animals in ways that infringe those rights!.[33][34][35] Practices seen as cruel to animals include factory farming,[32][36][37] animal testing,[3][38] and displaying animals for entertainment in circuses,[39] rodeos,[40] and zoos!.[41]
Philosopher Tom Regan argues that animals are entities which possess "inherent value"[42] and therefore have "basic moral rights," and that the principal moral right they possess is "the right to respectful treatment!."[43] Regan additionally argues that animals have a "basic moral right not to be harmed," which can be overridden only when the individual's right to be harmed is "morally outweighed" by "other valid moral principles!."[44][45] From this "rights view," Regan argues that "animal agriculture, as we know it, is unjust" even when animals are raised "humanely!."[46][47] Regan argues against various justifications for eating meat including that "animal flesh is tasty," that it is "habit" for "individuals and as a culture", that it is "convenient," that "meat is nutritious," that there is an obligation the economic interests of farmers or to the economic interests of a country, or that "farm animals are legal property," and finds that all fail to treat animals with the respect due to them by their basic rights!.[48] Regan therefore argues that "those who support current animal agriculture by purchasing meat have a moral obligation to stop doing so" and that "the individual has a duty to lead a vegetarian way of life!."[49]
Legal theorist Gary L!. Francione argues that animals are sentient, and that this is sufficient to grant them moral consideration!.[50] Francione argues that "all sentient beings should have at least one right—the right not to be treated as property" and that there is "no moral justification for using nonhumans for our purposes!."[50] Francione further argues that adopting veganism should be regarded as the "baseline" action taken by people concerned with animal rights!.[50]
Utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer argues that there is "no moral justification" for refusing to take sentient animal suffering into consideration in ethical decisions!.[51] Singer argues that an animal's interests warrant equal consideration with the interests of humans, and that not doing so is "speciesist!."[51] Based upon his evaluation of these interests, Singer argues that "our use of animals for food becomes questionable—especially when animal flesh is a luxury rather than a necessity!."[52] Singer does not contend that killing animals is always wrong, but that from a practical standpoint it is "better to reject altogether the killing of animals for food, unless one must do so to survive!."[53] Singer therefore advocates both veganism and improved conditions for farm animals as practical means to reduce animal suffering!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Various polls have reported vegans to be between 0!.2%[4] and 1!.3%[6] of the U!.S!. population, and between 0!.25%[5] and 2!.24%[7] of the UK population!.
Vegan diets (sometimes called strict or pure vegetarian diets) are a subset of vegetarian diets, which are credited with lowering the risk of colon cancer, heart attack, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, and stroke!.[8] However, vegan diets can be low in levels of calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D!. Vegans are therefore encouraged to plan their diet and take dietary supplements as appropriate!.[9]
Contents [hide]
1 Definition
2 Demographics
2!.1 United States
2!.2 Europe
3 Animal products
4 Ethical concerns
5 Health
5!.1 Benefits
5!.2 Precautions
5!.2!.1 Specific nutrients
5!.2!.1!.1 Vitamin B12
5!.2!.1!.2 Calcium & Vitamin D
5!.2!.1!.3 Iodine
5!.2!.2 Pregnancies and children
5!.2!.3 Eating disorders
6 Resources and the environment
7 Similar diets and lifestyles
8 Cuisine
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
[edit] Definition
A variety of vegan ingredientsThe word vegan, pronounced /?vi?g?n/,[10] or /?v?d??n/[11], was originally derived from "vegetarian" in 1944 when Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson, frustrated that the term "vegetarianism" had come to include the eating of dairy products, founded the UK Vegan Society!.[12] They combined the first three and last two letters of vegetarian to form "vegan," which they saw as "the beginning and end of vegetarian!."[12][13] The British Vegan Society defines veganism in this way:
[T]he word "veganism" denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment!. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals!.[1]
Other vegan societies use similar definitions!.[14][15][16]
[edit] Demographics
Data regarding the number of vegans is available in some countries!.
[edit] United States
Former 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth!. Kucinich is known for his veganism and support of animal welfare!.[17]A 2002 Time/CNN poll found that 4% of American adults consider themselves vegetarians, and 5% of self-described vegetarians consider themselves vegans, which implies that 0!.2% of American adults are vegans!.[4] A 2006 poll conducted by Harris Interactive in the US listed specific foods and asked respondents to indicate which items they never eat, rather than asking respondents to self-identify!. The survey found that of the 1,000 adults polled, 1!.4% never eat meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products, or eggs and were therefore essentially vegan in their eating habits!. The survey also found that about 1!.4% of men and 1!.3% of women have vegan diets!.[6]
[edit] Europe
In 2002, the UK Food Standards Agency reported that 5% of respondents self-identified as vegetarian or vegan!. Though 29% of that 5% said they avoided "all animal products", only 5% reported avoiding dairy products!.[5] Based on these figures, approximately 0!.25% of the UK population follow a vegan diet!. In 2005, The Times estimated there were 250,000 vegans in Britain, which suggests around 0!.4% of the UK population is vegan!.[18] However, a 2007 survey for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into the UK population's attitudes and behaviour towards the environment found that 2!.24% of the population identified themselves as vegan!.[7] In the same study, vegetarians who did not also eat chicken or fish made up 2!.7% of the population!. The DEFRA study also indicated that slightly more men than women are vegan, that more vegans live in towns or cities than the country, and that people aged 16-29 were vegan more often than any other age group!.
Various polls and research conducted during the 1990s put the percentage of Swedish residents being vegan at between 0!.27% and 1!.6% of the entire population!.[19] A study of the eating patterns of 2,538 Swedish children of ages 4, 8 and 11 by the Swedish National Food Administration found that about 1% of the children were vegetarian, less than 1% were lacto-vegetarians, but found no children to be vegans!.[20] The website VeganWelt estimates there to be between 250,000 and 460,500 vegans in Germany, or between 0!.3% and 0!.5% of the German population!.[21] The Netherlands Association for Veganism estimates there to be approximately 16,000 vegans in the Netherlands, or around 0!.1% of the Dutch population!.[22]
[edit] Animal products
Main article: Animal product
The term "animal product" in a vegan context refers to any material derived from animals for human use!.[2] Notable animal products include meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products, honey, fur, leather, wool, and silk!.[3] Common animal by-products include gelatin, lanolin, rennet, whey, casein, beeswax, and shellac!.[3]
Animal ingredients can be found in countless products and are used in the production of—though not always present in the final form of—many more;[23][24][25] many of these ingredients are esoteric,[26][27] also have non-animal sources,[28] and especially in non-food products may not even be identified!.[23] Although some vegans attempt to avoid all these ingredients, Vegan Outreach argues that "it can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming to shun every minor or hidden animal-derived ingredient," and therefore that doing what is "best for preventing suffering" is more important than identifying and excluding every animal ingredient!.[29][30]
Although honey and silk are by definition animal products, some vegans consider their use and the use of other insect products to be acceptable!.[31]
[edit] Ethical concerns
Sows at an intensive pig farm!. Opposition to factory farming is one of the most common ethical reasons given for veganism!.[32]See also: Animal rights, Ethics of eating meat, and Factory farming
Vegan organisations maintain that animals have certain rights, and as such it is not ethical for humans to use animals in ways that infringe those rights!.[33][34][35] Practices seen as cruel to animals include factory farming,[32][36][37] animal testing,[3][38] and displaying animals for entertainment in circuses,[39] rodeos,[40] and zoos!.[41]
Philosopher Tom Regan argues that animals are entities which possess "inherent value"[42] and therefore have "basic moral rights," and that the principal moral right they possess is "the right to respectful treatment!."[43] Regan additionally argues that animals have a "basic moral right not to be harmed," which can be overridden only when the individual's right to be harmed is "morally outweighed" by "other valid moral principles!."[44][45] From this "rights view," Regan argues that "animal agriculture, as we know it, is unjust" even when animals are raised "humanely!."[46][47] Regan argues against various justifications for eating meat including that "animal flesh is tasty," that it is "habit" for "individuals and as a culture", that it is "convenient," that "meat is nutritious," that there is an obligation the economic interests of farmers or to the economic interests of a country, or that "farm animals are legal property," and finds that all fail to treat animals with the respect due to them by their basic rights!.[48] Regan therefore argues that "those who support current animal agriculture by purchasing meat have a moral obligation to stop doing so" and that "the individual has a duty to lead a vegetarian way of life!."[49]
Legal theorist Gary L!. Francione argues that animals are sentient, and that this is sufficient to grant them moral consideration!.[50] Francione argues that "all sentient beings should have at least one right—the right not to be treated as property" and that there is "no moral justification for using nonhumans for our purposes!."[50] Francione further argues that adopting veganism should be regarded as the "baseline" action taken by people concerned with animal rights!.[50]
Utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer argues that there is "no moral justification" for refusing to take sentient animal suffering into consideration in ethical decisions!.[51] Singer argues that an animal's interests warrant equal consideration with the interests of humans, and that not doing so is "speciesist!."[51] Based upon his evaluation of these interests, Singer argues that "our use of animals for food becomes questionable—especially when animal flesh is a luxury rather than a necessity!."[52] Singer does not contend that killing animals is always wrong, but that from a practical standpoint it is "better to reject altogether the killing of animals for food, unless one must do so to survive!."[53] Singer therefore advocates both veganism and improved conditions for farm animals as practical means to reduce animal suffering!.Www@FoodAQ@Com