Beautiful fresh luscious produce, colorful juicy fruits, aroma of fresh baked vegan gluten-free breads, gorgeous neatly cut flowers and almost every breed of four- legged furry friend with their proud owners enjoying the beautiful Florida weather at downtown West palm beach green market.
We were all-set next to Pump House coffee roasters enjoying the fresh aroma of velvety smooth coffee. Here comes a group of vibrant teenagers taking selfies and enjoying their Saturday morning. A compassionate looking young lady comes directly to our booth and starts enquiring about our “vegan wraps”. She seemed fascinated by our wraps, black bean salsa, spicy potatoes, the crispy chips, and calls her friends. They enjoy our delicious samples and leave us with heart-warming complements.
I was touched by their passion for veganism and their strong beliefs.
What does veganism or vegan mean?
Vegetarianism means avoiding meat, fish, and poultry but they are okay with consuming dairy products. I believe vegetarianism is more for religious reasons for Hindus, Jainism and for Christians during lent but, veganism is more of life style. Veganism means avoiding all animal meat, fish, poultry, dairy, honey even leather, silk and gelatin which may come from animal bone.
Recently, I came across a very interesting fact about refined sugar.
Do you know that sugar can be vegan and non-vegan???
Only beets sugar or organic sugar are supposed to be vegan.
Refined sugar that is the white table sugar which you add to coffee, cake or cookies is made from either sugarcane or sugar beets. To manufacture sugar from sugar cane, sugarcane stalks are crushed to separate the juice from the pulp. The juice is processed and heated to crystalize, and is then filtered and bleached with bone char, which results in sugar’s original white color. To make bone char, animal bones are heated at incredibly high temperature and are reduced to carbon before being used in a refinery. The sugar does not actually contain bone char particles, but it does come into contact with them, writes Kate Bratskeir Food and Health Editor at The Huffington Post.
Bottom line Veganism is a lifestyle and Vegans are very passionate animal rights supporters who are strongly against using animal products for any purpose.
Why do people even become vegan?
1. It might start for dieting purpose, to slim down, to lose weight and to feel energized and healthy. Do you know vegans are comparatively slimmer than meat-eaters?? Since vegan diet automatically removes most unhealthy foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, fried chicken, ice cream and includes fresh produce, green leafy vegetables and fruits in their diet, vegans are comparatively healthier with fever health problems.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes or high blood pressure than meat-eaters are. sometimes it’s a most needed life-style change to cure health issues.
I have utmost respect for vegans….
Being a nutritional professional, my only concern for vegans is poorly planned vegan diet may pose nutritional risks and health problems. They must plan their meals and vitamins intake properly. Vegans must take few vitamin and minerals supplements especially vitamin B12, vitamin D, Iodine, Calcium, and Iron.
Veganism is indeed very compassionate lifestyle. It totally makes sense that the animals do have equal rights to live life fullest. Even if you don’t believe in veganism, I urge you to try to be vegan for at least few days of a week for the sake of your own health and well-being…