thoughtful

#VEGCURIOUS ?

| Sophie

(A post written for the Mancunion – The Manchester Uni student newspaper).

Definition: someone who is interested in exploring veganism and experimenting with vegetables in new ways, but not quite ready to commit.

Been having some affectionate thoughts about vegetables lately? Perhaps you’ve been wondering about alternative sources of protein but you’re not quite ready to talk about it with your mates? You might be what experts are calling ‘vegcurious’.

In the UK, over half a million people are completely vegan, almost 2 million are vegetarian and new figures are showing that many more people are vegcurious and want to know more about this plant-based lifestyle. In the US, the figures are even higher, and a staggering 40% of the population in India follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Veganism is drifting into the mainstream as research is showing that going vegan is a win, win, win situation. Good for the animals, good for the planet, and good for us.

Animal welfare and ethicality is of course still a really important issue, however it’s no longer the most popular reason for going vegan. Veganism is becoming as much an environmental cause as it is an animal welfare cause. Agricultural studies show that rearing cattle for food is the main effector of deforestation and has the biggest impact on global warming. A common misconception is that soy bean plants are causing deforestation, however 85% of these plants are used as feed for cattle and not human consumption, and therefore are also a part of the animal-product industry. Many of you will have heard the devastating news about the Great Barrier Reef last year caused by overfishing and global warming; moreover, the planets rapidly decreasing biodiversity is being dubbed by experts as the 6th extinction crisis. I think it’s time humans took responsibility for the harm we’ve caused, take a long hard look at the evidence and realise that it is the production of animal products for food which is exerting the greatest damage in our environmental crises.

If you’re not much of an environmental activist, that’s fine. But surely you care about yourself? Your health? With the popularity of veganism growing, so has the demand for scientific studies identifying the effect of this diet on your body, and whether or not a plant-based diet is able to provide adequate nutrient acquisition. The results are astounding, and show that not only is a vegan diet adequate, but it also decreases your risks of getting various diseases including different forms of cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease and even osteoporosis. However, the risk of certain deficiency’s are higher in vegans because most people were never taught how to eat a well-balanced, vegan diet and therefore miss out key macro and micronutrients, and it’s important to transition your body safely into this new lifestyle as it is quite a drastic change in diet if you’ve always been a meat eater.

So if you’re a transitioning vegan or a conscientious meat-eater, make sure you’re filling your plate with balanced, nutritious foods that are going to supply you with the complete repertoire of nutrients your body needs. And try and be a little friendlier to vegetables.

The strength in optimism

| Sophie

 

Optimism,

to have hope,

to believe that the good will overcome the bad in some way, shape or form.

Sometimes optimists can get a bad rep for wearing rose-tinted glasses,

and believing the best in a person or situation,

even though you get let down time and time again.

It may be seen as weakness, or ignorance, or immaturity.

But I’m proud to be an optimist.

And I believe that it’s the hope and the ability to see the silver lining that gives us strength.

We are strong enough to be hurt,

and to be sad,

and to grieve and mourn for people that we don’t even know,

animals we have never met,

battles we will never face,

wounds we will never feel,

and STILL pick ourselves up every day and see the wonder in this world.

Despite all the sadness in front of us,

we still get up in the morning and keep looking towards the future.

We still have hope for future generations and for the future of this Earth.

Being an optimist doesn’t make you weak,

for fighting fair and refusing to sink to a more hurtful level.

We don’t need to put someone else down to make ourselves feel good.

We make others feel better in order to make ourselves feel good.

Optimists are strong enough for 2 people,

we don’t suck the happiness out of someone else to fuel our own,

we give happiness and we give love and it’s in that generosity and genuine care that we feel fulfilled.

Strength lies in your ability to forgive,

to understand,

to be compassionate,

to still try and be good,

even though it’s really really hard not to feel hate, or be selfish, or be lazy.

That is strength.

That continued commitment.

Strength isn’t being nastier than someone,

being bigger and stronger,

being the one more willing to push someone until they break.

Strength isn’t who can shout the loudest,

who can win a popularity contest,

who can list more achievements.

Strength is being able to put one foot in front of the other every day,

to keep going,

to keep smiling,

to keep seeing the beauty in your life despite all the misery.

Strong people are the people who value happiness and love.

Strong people value other people.

They value other life.

They can see that all life is created equal.

And they can see that although we were all born equal,

we weren’t all bought up equal,

 and that some people have a lot of hate,

a lot of resentment and a lot of insecurities

that they need to put onto other people because it’s the only way they can take it off of themselves.

Strong people don’t have hate, so they don’t need to hate others to take a break from hating themselves.

If you’ve gained your strength from putting people down,

you have the strength of one person,

and it’s a fickle, shallow, transient strength you’ve stolen.

If you’ve gained strength from helping the people around you,

being kind, being considerate, making other people feel special and appreciated,

then you have the strength of a network of good people.

Whatever kind of person you are,

just remember that the way you feel about the people around you is more a reflection of yourself than a reflection of them.

And remember that only you are in control of your emotions,

and I for one would much rather be happy,

than seem strong.