5 Benefits Of Being Vegan

I have been vegan for a few years now and I can't imagine living the way I used to. It's hard to believe that I ate animals and animals products without even realizing what I was endorsing. I also didn't realize how sick I actually was. I didn't know how good I could feel until I went vegan. It's one of, if not the best decision I've ever made. Here are 5 reasons why I'm glad to be vegan:

1. Action and Belief Alignment: I never condoned or supported animal cruelty before I went vegan. The irony is I didn't realize that's exactly what I was doing when I ate animal products. Now I live my beliefs through what I eat and what I buy.
2. Feeling Good: I felt better right after I cut out animal products from my diet. I felt lighter and had more energy. I don't feel the need to turn to caffeine to stay awake. Overall, there's been a significant improvement in my health.
3. Helping the planet: Not only do. I improve my life and animals' lives by going vegan, but I can help the planet as well. Animal agriculture contributes to deforestation, species extinction, oceanic dead zones and climate change. It's great that by simply changing what I eat, I can help prevent our planet's degradation.
4. Empathy: After going vegan I have more empathy for animals and for other people.  I also think more about how my actions affect other people, especially my purchases. Everyday I am more conscious of my decisions and turn towards more ethical options.
5. Self-esteem: I feel more confident in myself and my beliefs since going vegan. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it and now years later I couldn't imagine living any other way. I've experienced the benefits and living a cruelty-free life makes me feel better, giving me more confidence.

There are countless benefits to being vegan and it has positively changed my life in every single way. I believe that being vegan has made me make better choices and has helped me improve and grow as a person. If you are looking to make a positive change in your life, go vegan. You will help yourself, the animals and the planet. When you are benefiting your life and the lives of other beings, you can't go wrong.

If you are not vegan and want to experience the veganized life style, check out our next PDX event at SouthFork on August 30th. Get tickets here.