Go vegan this World Vegetarian Day

The dairy and egg industries still kill animals

Sadly, consuming dairy and eggs still results in animals being killed. In the egg industry, male chicks are considered useless because they do not lay eggs. As such, they are ‘culled’ at a few days old. In the UK, male chicks are usually gassed to death, but other permitted methods include being minced alive.

The dairy industry is also horrifically cruel to animals. Dairy cows face a lifetime of forced impregnation. Their babies are forcibly taken away from them, and when they are no longer considered ‘profitable’ (which is often at about 5 or 6 years old) they are sent to the slaughterhouse.

If the babies are female, they will face the same fate as their mother. If they are male, they are often sent to veal farms; sent to slaughter shortly after birth; or exported to other countries via live exports to be raised and slaughtered for consumption.

A vegan diet is probably the best thing you can do for the planet

Time and time again, research has shown that adopting a plant-based diet is one of the best things an individual can do to reduce their impact upon the planet. Most recently, research from Oxford University found that the greenhouse gas emissions produced by a vegan diet is less than a quarter of those produced by a meat-based diet. Not only this, a vegan diet requires less land and fresh water.

Previous research has also found that dairy, when compared to plant milks, is the worst milk for the planet.

Going vegan is not only better for the animals and the planet, but also a healthy way of living. Every major dietetic association around the world agrees that a balanced vegan diet provides all the nutrients one needs to thrive – this includes the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the British Dietetics Association, and the NHS.

Here are top tips on being a healthy vegan by vegan health professionals

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