I decided to become vegan last December (2015). During my winter break senior year, I probably spent too much time watching documentaries about the food industry and animal exploitation. Documentaries like Food Inc., Forks Over Knives, If Slaughter Houses Had Glass Walls, and Earthlings helped me better understand and realize the disturbing and eye-opening mysteries of the normal, everyday American diet. I won't venture into the bloody and twisty side of the food industry, instead I will focus on the environmental damage that meat and dairy are having on our planet and why a vegan lifestyle improves everyone’s “ecological footprint”. Besides the long list of personal health benefits, such as increased energy, healthier-looking skin, weight loss, reduced risk of life-threatening diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer), veganism has many benefits. many more scientifically proven benefits than the average Western diet. does not provide. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Now, when I say “average Western diet,” that includes all forms of meat, dairy, and eggs. This is what you might call an animal-based diet. In contrast, the vegan lifestyle eliminates all forms of animal byproducts from the daily diet. As I like to describe it, essentially, veganism excludes any form of food that once had its own face, that of a mom or dad (sounds silly, I know. But it's an easier explanation to understand for people). There are different forms of veganism, some more intense than others. The most effective and environmentally friendly form of veganism has proven to be a purely plant-based diet. When it comes to environmental benefits, according to Vegan Outreach, the livestock sector (chicken, pig, cow) is responsible for approximately 18% of unsafe foods. greenhouse gas emissions into our air. CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions are among the main contributors to the growing problem of global warming. Additionally, approximately 64% of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which are a major contributor to acid rain, are also attributable to livestock. Obviously, with the increased need for livestock comes an increased need for land (to keep all the animals). Land degradation has become an even greater problem as pasture and fodder land are in high demand. As a result, deforestation has increased. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), one of the largest animal rights organizations in the world, has a surplus of information on this topic, but I found plenty of evidence regarding significant water pollution. problem posed by the food industry. “Every day, factory farms produce billions of pounds of manure, which ends up in lakes, rivers and drinking water. » (PETA) Animal waste and chemical fertilizers then end up in bodies of water from which WE collect drinking water. “According to the EPA, agricultural runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways.” Granted, my decision to transition to a cleaner, primarily plant-based diet had a lot to do with my emotional attachment to animals, but I was also looking for a way to adopt a healthier lifestyle for myself. My ecological or carbon footprint has.