Abbot Kinney’s is all about pure, healthy and delicious food. Our plant-based products are embraced for different reasons. First of all they serve the environment, the people (us), our health in general and the animals too. Find out below how eating vegan food makes the world a better place.
FOR YOUR HEALTH
Studies (NCBI) reveal that by eating veggie food (more often), we are less likely to suffer cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity. In 2015, WHO even added processed meat to its list of carcinogens. Voedingscentrum (dietary centre in the Netherlands) too recommends eating fewer animal products. Now, if you are on a strictly vegetarian diet, then taking B12 supplements is a sensible thing to do. Sources of B12 include meat, because it is in cows’ feed. Vitamin D, especially in the winter months, is also very important. The main source is sunlight and in very small quantities it is also provided by animal products like oily fish species and dairy products. Are you afraid you might not excel at the gym? Well maybe it is interesting to know that top-athletes too have discovered veggie food. Like Patrick Baboumian (strongest man in Germany in 2011) and tennis players Novak Djokovic, Serena and Venus Williams.
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Do you care about the environment? Then why not start eating fewer animal products? The meat and dairy industry has a huge impact on the environment. Nearly one-fifth of greenhouse gasses is emitted by cattle farms (FAO). It takes only one cow to produce as many greenhouse gases as 4.5 cars; it’s like driving 70000 kilometres basically (organisation Wakker Dier). The UN say meat production is the second largest source of other environmental issues like soil contamination, water/air pollution and acidification. Producing meat requires huge amounts of water. Did you know that in order to produce one kilogram of beef, you need as many as 15500 litres of water?
Biodiversity is being affected as well, with more and more rainforests being cleared. In order to keep livestock and feed the animals, you need a serious amount of land. The good side effect though is the increase of biodiversity. Wherever cattle feed used to grow now other, sometimes original, flora and fauna exist as well. Like bees for instance, wild animals including monkeys, tropical forest but also ordinary plants.
FOR THE PEOPLE
To produce meat, dairy products and eggs, cattle feed (wheat, corn and soya) is being cultivated on a large scale. At least 70% of all farmland is used for cattle farming. To get one kilogram of meat, up to 13 kg of plant-based feed are needed. So using agricultural land directly for human consumption would be more efficient. Veganism could significantly contribute to reducing world hunger (Chatham, M. Gentleworld).
FOR THE ANIMALS
Are you an animal lover? Then this might be your reason to help end animal suffering. In the bio-industry but also at organic farms, animals have been made secondary to financial interests. Animal suffering occurs not only while producing meat or fish products, but also within the dairy, egg and honey industry. In addition, you will help stop draining the oceans, bearing in mind that 80% of fish species are being eaten into extinction (Wakker Dier).
WANNA START EATING PLANT-BASED FOOD MORE OFTEN?
Are you convinced about the benefits of eating vegetable food? You can turn your eating habits upside down, but perhaps a slow start would be more efficient. It means you will allow your body to get used to the transition, and you can get used to eating different food. For example, you could start the day with a vegetable breakfast, exchanging yoghurt for Coco Start or Almond Start. Our blog provides a number of recipes to enjoy delicious, plant-based breakfast.
Sources: National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), VeganChallenge, Het Voedingscentrum, Gentleworld, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO), Wakker Dier, World Health Organization
4. It's better for the animals
Did you ever had or knew anyone with a dog and can you recall if this dog was just a dog or where you able to see personality.
Research has measured animal personality, better described as animal disposition, in over 100 species.
Even farm animals feel pleasure and sadness, excitement and resentment, depression, fear and pain. They are much more sensitive and intelligent than we ever imagined. Ethologist Jane Goodall - The Inner World of Farm Animals.
The bio-industry but also the organic farms have put economics above animal welfare. And animal suffering is not exclusive for meat productions. The same goes for the dairy, egg and honey industry.
So sustainability and health aside, do you want to contribute or help end animal suffering?
Getting you started
There is no one size (methode) fits all. But for most people a radical switch is not the way to go. Slowly start to change your eating habits. First try to eat a vegan breakfast for a month. After a while start to include more vegetables in your meals and make dairy, eggs and meat less important. The real mind shift starts when you make plants the hero of every meal.
For example, you could start the day with a vegetable breakfast, exchanging yoghurt for Coco Start or Almond Start. Our blog provides a number of recipes to enjoy delicious, plant-based breakfast.
Sources: National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), VeganChallenge, Het Voedingscentrum, Gentleworld, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO), Wakker Dier, World Health Organization
