A Look into the Health Benefits of Veganism
Throughout my eighteen years of existence, I thought I was living a “healthy”, consistent lifestyle, working out every day and limiting my carbohydrate consumption. I no longer felt healthy but felt cheated from not knowing the truth behind the sickening meat production. The day I learned about the health issues involved with eating animal by-products, my definition of being “healthy” changed. I became more concerned with the way food was produced and harvested and stopped supporting mass corporations and businesses who lie to their consumers for the sole intention to make money. My meaning behind healthy now entails eating less processed foods and more organic products. Little did I know, that day would be the last time I would ever consume meat again.
This dramatic change in my lifestyle was not an easy one, but it helped me reinforce the healthy ideals I live by daily. I became interested in watching documentaries such as “What the Health” by Kip Andersen, which helped strengthen my knowledge about animal cruelty, the meat industry, and the tragic health issues that are entailed with eating animal by-products. Kip goes to great lengths to “uncover the secret to preventing and even reversing chronic diseases”, which brings plant-based diets into play. Being a vegetarian has been an eye-opening experience that assisted me in realizing that my health should be valued more than my taste preferences, which spiked my interest in being a member of the vegan community. By challenging myself more to learn about the health benefits of being vegan and eliminating all animal by-products from my diet will guide me into a new chapter of my life.
The vegan community entails so many opportunities to be a part of and share connections within the internet. Popular forms of interaction within this community are social media accounts such as Instagram, YouTube, and blog posts. During my research on the vegan community, I’ll be focusing on “How did Kristina Bucaram change the ‘face’ of veganism?” She is a vegan inspiration known to most as “FULLYRAW KRISTINA”. Kristina is known to be one of the most famous vegan influences for her drive to spread the message of health and wellness benefits from a plant-based diet. She is looked up to by many people and has encouraged hundreds of people to join the movement towards a healthier life (Kristina Bucaram). Documentaries are another way to stay informed about the health issues associated with eating animal by-products and will help enrich ones understanding of the health benefits of being vegan. I’ll further my research through articles online written by credible scholars or doctors to make sure the information I find regarding health benefits and prevention from diseases is accurate.
Regarding my research of the vegan community, I narrowed my focus towards a specific member of the community, Alex McDermott. I met Alex in my sophomore year of high school and she was an idol of mine that inspired me to become a vegetarian. She is a dedicated member of the vegan community and stood out to me as someone who is consistent with their views in every aspect of her life. Alex informed me of her main motives in becoming a vegan, which are centered around animal rights issues, as well as environmental factors. During her two and half year long journey as a vegan, she’s lost seventy pounds eating a plant-based diet and exercising daily. Alex was quick to learn the health benefits associated with eliminating animal by-products from her diet, such as a decrease in saturated fats that are found in large quantities within dairy products and red meats (Andersen and Kuhn). Her decreased consumption of processed foods allowed her complexion to clear up dramatically and gave her an increase in energy, enabling her to work out more frequently.
Alex is a part of a very interactive and friendly community of people who share common interests through the sphere of the internet such as social media posts like Instagram, YouTube, and personal blogs. She follows “Fullyrawkristina” on Instagram, to keep learning new ways to cook vegan recipes and explore the alternative ways to eat without animal products in her diet. Alex follows other inspiring vegan idols such as Ellen Fisher, who posts video logs on YouTube involving her family who are all dedicated vegans who display their daily lifestyles, along with the recipes they swear by. Documentaries such as “Cowspiracy” and “What the Health”, both directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, are also popular to the vegan community in informing viewers of the health risks associated with eating animal by-products. A few of these risks include: the clogging-up of the arteries from fats and cholesterol, and an increased risk of cancer and diabetes (Andersen and Kuhn).
Alex sets an example for people by influencing them to think about the impact of their food choices and how to affects the world around us. She’s influenced a lot of her close friends to change their mindsets about what they put in their bodies and how it directly affects our surrounding environment. The biggest stereotype, Alex claims, is that people assume vegans are always trying to force their ideals amongst others; although she gets her message out by initialing respecting people’s choices and encourages them to live their life in a way that makes them happy. Knowing that she can live a sustainable and healthier life without harming other living species, motivates her to continue her life a part of the vegan community. Although becoming a vegan is challenging at first, Alex has proven it to be worth every ounce of time and energy she’s put into it, consistently presenting her morals throughout every aspect of her life. She loves being able to live a guilt-free lifestyle, always feeling satisfied with herself and her body, knowing she’s consuming foods that are neither bad for body nor the environment.
The vegan community is composed of a following of dedicated, morally consistent people, driven to accomplish the goals they set for themselves and society. They interact in extensive ways, branching their connections worldwide to other countries via the sphere of the internet. They successfully get their word out by encouraging others to join their movement against animal by-products and consumerism, “seeking an end to the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection, and by all other uses involving exploitation of animal life by man.,” (The Vegan Society Definition). They attract their audience with the use of influential sources of media such as documentaries like “What the Health” and “Cowspiracy” both directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn. These documentaries are aimed towards calling out the nation’s leading health and environmental organizations and “uncovering the secret to preventing and even reversing chronic diseases and why these health organizations don’t want us to know about it” (Andersen and Kuhn). The vegan community attracts viewers who care for the world that exists around them and can acknowledge the impacts that our actions as humans make on our planet.
The rise of veganism can be traced back as early as 500 BCE, when Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, followed a vegetarian diet and promoted kindness towards animals (The Vegan Society History). Although veganism wasn’t a socially known concept until a group known as “The Vegan Society,” was founded in 1944 by Donald Watson. Watson and six other individuals are accredited for being the first members of the vegan movement who recognized the necessity of awareness needed amongst society about the issues regarding the environment, animal’s rights, and health-oriented issues.
Today, the vegan community consists of approximately 7.3 million people who follow a plant-based diet in the United States alone (The Vegetarian Times Editors). This is a growing, widespread movement as people are becoming more consciously aware of the health dangers of consuming animal by-products and the affects it has on the environment. This world-wide awareness is spread through the engagement of social media and the internet through blog posts, Instagram accounts, and YouTube posts. Famous vegan accounts that have large followings on social media sites like Instagram and YouTube bring more attention to the community of veganism and allow people to become more interested in learning the potential of maintaining a plant-based diet. Connections amongst people within the community are upheld through the bondage over similar moral ideals and creative ways to exist as vegan. People share food recipes with each other to find new ways to prepare snacks, meals, and desserts without the use of animal-by products. “FullyRawKristina” is one of many famous Instagram idols who is well known for her raw vegan recipes. She displays her foods in a way that is visually appealing and has a way of attracting viewers to be interested in knowing what her profile is all about. Kristina inspires many people to take that initial leap in switching to the vegan lifestyle and committing to eating a raw, clean diet. Kristina is amongst other vegans who began their journey due to a serve illness, Type 2 Diabetes, hyperglycemia. Becoming a vegan was a life changing experience that cured her of diabetes at eighteen years old. Over the last thirteen years of being a raw vegan, Kristina has inspired many individuals and has one of the largest followings in the vegan community (Kristina Bucaram).
Many people are drawn to the idea of a vegan lifestyle when they’re facing health issues or need a healthier diet to follow. Dairy and meat products contain the highest amounts of saturated fats that increases your risk of diabetes by 51% (Andersen and Kuhn). Eating large quantities of processed meats have been found to clog your arteries and put you at a greater risk for heart disease and forms of cancer (The Physicians Committee). A large following of vegans join the community to meet their fitness goals at a greater ease, granting them more energy to accomplish workouts by fueling their bodies with nutrients that work in their favor and don’t weigh them down. The food industry has finally caught up to the demands of society, and many food businesses now promote and encourage the vegan community by providing plant-based options on their menus. Many businesses have flourished during this rise in popularity of veganism and have opened restaurants specifically geared towards the targeted audience of organic, natural, vegan foods. Corner coffee shops are now serving vegan banana breads, muffins, and cookies to cater more to the community. This community is growing in popularity by the minute, and sooner or later, we’ll all be fighting in the freezer isle for the last box of veggie burgers.
This shift in society of widespread awareness of veganism and the movement that’s been created can be accredited to Kristina Bucaram for her following on Instagram and YouTube of one million followers and subscribers. She’s changed the face of veganism by normalizing the characteristics of a stereotypical vegan individual. She doesn’t dress like a so-called “Hippie” with unshaved armpits and linen clothing, but dresses in a lively colorful style, staying in-tune with the latest trends. The idea of becoming vegan is now viewed as a possible goal to achieve, no longer solely based on religious values or ethics towards animal rights, with the outbreak of studies releasing the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet. Kristina posts instructional videos regarding her vegan recipes on her YouTube channel that targets audiences who are looking for different ways to can better themselves, whether they’re vegan or not. She has an entire collection of FullyRaw juice recipes that promotes different health benefits in each juice, such as her “Anti-Cancer Green Juice” and juices that are good for your complexion. Kristina also shares videos that provide her viewers with “tips and tricks” to living a FullyRaw lifestyle and how to stay fit, such as “How to Get a Flat Stomach (5 Easy Steps)” (Kristina Bucaram YouTube). These videos not only provide advice on how to achieve and maintain your goals, but they also encourage her audience to step outside of their comfort zone and engage in new ways to conquer your goals. She proves that living a vegan lifestyle is beneficial to your health by being a direct result of what it’s like when you dedicate yourself to something you really want, or in some cases like Kristina, may need in terms of illnesses and disease. Kristina was diagnosed at a young age with Type 2 Diabetes, hyperglycemia. She cured herself by eating a fully raw, vegan diet, ridding herself of the impurities entail when eating meat and dairy products. Kristina’s story brought to question the health concerns that are associated with eating animal by-products and the potential harm they can have on our bodies.
Scientists and Doctors have been running groups experiments to analyze the effects these products have on our bodies compared to that of people who have eliminated animal by-products from their diets. Research studies show that the numbers of Americans following a vegan diet have increased substantially in the past 15 years from approximately 300,000 to 6 million people, with the main interest in its reported health benefits. Vegans are found to have “lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes” as a direct result of eating a healthy, plant-based diet (Radnitz, Beezhold, and DiMatteo 31-36). An important component in maintaining a vegan diet, is to ensure you’re optimizing your diet to its fullest potential by eating nutrient rich foods. Vegans are sometimes found to have low levels of iron or B12, and “deficiencies of calcium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B6 and total energy” if they’re not conscious of the foods they’re eating as a substitute to these nutrients (Mann and Mann S64). A typical vegan diet includes “fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, and whole grains”, although they’re not always healthful, as some “grain-based foods are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats”. Analyzing the exact benefits is challenging, as many factors are taken into consideration like sex, race, ethnicity and lifestyle practices such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, and physical activity (Radnitz, Beezhold, and DiMatteo 31-36). Regardless of these concerns and possibilities of being a “unhealthy” vegan, studies still prove the positive impact plant-based diets have on our bodies.
The vegan community utilizes their knowledge of these proven health benefits by alluring viewers to want to learn more about ways they can prevent themselves from obtaining these diseases, or how they can cure themselves in an organic way, without the use of medicines. Members of the vegan community, Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, are the producers of the popular documentaries “What the Health” and “Cowspiracy”, which are known to be some of the most influential sources that inspire people to become vegan. They do so in an unintentionally persuasive manner, by exposing the nation’s leading health organizations and the secret to preventing and reversing chronic diseases (Andersen and Kuhn). Most people are curious about the effects food can have on their bodies, aside from the physical appearance. “What the Health” goes into great depth about the unknown dangers of the meat and dairy industry and has found that “the number one source of saturated fat is dairy”, although we’re brain washed as adolescents to believe that dairy makes our bones strong, when realistically, it’s a potential source of autoimmune diseases and is linked to multiple type of cancer. They point out the ironic natural of consumerism, as Susan G. Komen Pink Ribbons are displayed on dairy yogurt containers to advocate for breast cancer awareness, when dairy can increase the chance of women who have had breast cancer, from dying of the disease (Andersen and Kuhn, Facts). These documentaries are an important aspect of the vegan community, being an easily accessible source of information on the internet, such as Netflix, that allows people to be introduced to their community and learn about the health risks entailed with eating animal by-products.
This community of dedicated individuals, building their connections through the internet, creates such an inspiring and knowledgeable platform for spreading awareness to others about the ways anyone can make a difference in their lifestyles for the sake of their health. They’re different from any other community with the acceptance of all people, regardless of their sex, age, gender, race, ethnicity, experience, or current situation. The self-motivating desire they have in wanting to make others realize the possibilities of being vegan, and the example they portray to others, is important in the collectiveness of their community. Resources are so easily accessible and available to everyone, led by real people who experience the vegan journey and made that commitment for the value of their life. Kristina Bucaram is the main conductor of the widespread growing popularity of veganism on the internet, by making it appear as a realistic and reachable goal to achieve, being a walking example of someone who cured their own chronic disease. Kristina proves that the possibilities are endless when creating any meal, utilizing raw, organic foods that others wouldn’t consider possible. With the help of documentaries like “What the Health”, and research performed by doctors, the health benefits of a vegan diet are blatantly exposed for everyone to see. Not only does this give their community credibility, but it gives people hope that they can prevent, and cure, long dealt with diseases and sickness that make them feel doubtful. From blogs posts to YouTube videos, the possibilities are endless when finding ways to initiate a vegan diet and learn how exactly to maintain it. Most people love being able to have an interactive form of media to learn from other’s personal experiences and the challenges they’ve endured, while being able to ask questions about their concerns or to receive advice. Providing these resources have made the process and desire in wanting to become a vegan so much more convenient, with all the resources you need at your fingertips.
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