I Lost An Argument To A Vegan & These Are The 5 Lessons I Learnt From That

There's a joke among us non-vegans and it goes like this, "How do you recognise a vegan at a party? Don't worry, they'll let you know." And the exact same thing happened to me.

I was at a party last night when a vegan dropped the M-bomb: meat is equivalent to murder and only the ethics of a vegan diet can save the world.

I don't agree with the way vegans live their life. Instead of depriving your body of a certain food group, the focus should always be on eating what makes you happy. We argued at length about what's ethical, how we can save the world and, most importantly, be kind to our bodies.

Here's what I learnt and I bet this new info will be enriching for you too.

1. Veganism isn't about just being vegetarian.

Being a vegan doesn't just mean not eating meat. It means undertaking a plant diet and abstaining from all dairy products. This was essential in clearing a lot of confusion.

2. Accelerated weight loss is possible with a vegan diet.

Veganism is a great diet for weight loss, and studies have proven this. A recent study involved 1,151 dieters and 12 different diet trials in which participants followed a specific eating regime and their weight loss was monitored.

The diets studied included vegan, vegetarian, animal-based ones. The vegans lost the most weight. Why? Vegan meals tend to be high in fibre and fibre-rich, plant-based foods will make you feel fuller and satisfied for longer. Also, by cutting out cheese and dairy from your diet, you're cutting out a huge percentage of unhealthy fats.

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3. The vegan diet uses the least amount of land to feed everyone.

This was probably the most logically sound argument this dear vegan friend of mine made and there was no way I could contest it.

Vegans survive on a plant-based diet and that is why the arable land for agriculture required for their food is quite less. Plus, depending entirely on a plant-based diet also improves issues of water, ecological disturbance and global food insecurity.

4. A vegan is not necessarily environmentalist or an an animal lover.

I was under the impression that vegans gave up meat because they love animals or care too deeply for them. But I was shocked to know about vegans who are not animal activists but are just really particular about what they eat and where it's sourced from.

We have known for decades how eating processed meat can be really harmful and vegans have chosen not to consume it. It's as simple as that. Every choice doesn't need the support of a noble cause.

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5. Veganism is a great way to reset the body.

... just like a detox after weeks of partying and consuming alcohol can do wonders for your body. Instead of punishing or depriving your body of foods you absolutely love and enjoy, you can treat veganism as a great way to get your digestive systems flowing properly, gain nutrients from easy to digest plants, lower inflammation and feel refreshed.

In the end, choose to go on a path that makes you feel great. Food is an indulgence, devour happiness from it. With or without meat or dairy.