There are a lot of ways that you can help animals. You could, for example, volunteer at an animal shelter, foster pets who are waiting to be adopted, or donate to a non-profit. But one of the most impactful ways – as well as one of the easiest ways – to help animals around the world is by making smarter and kinder eating choices.
Consider Going Plant-Based
By now, with all of the studies on nutrition, and all of the news about climate change, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the plant-based diet. This is a diet that eliminates all animal products, and it’s easier than ever to follow this healthy way of eating. Of course, there are loads of resources and forums online that you can turn to, but you can also get valuable advice from a licensed dietitian and nutritionist.
There are many benefits associated with eliminating meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, and any other products that come from animals. For example, a plant-based diet can help reduce your risk of developing a range of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart problems. It can also help you slim down if you’re overweight, and it’s a great way to increase your intake of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that support overall health. And, don’t worry, there is plenty of protein to be had when you consume a plant-based diet!
How a Plant-Based Diet Helps Animals
By following a diet that’s focused on plants, rather than animals, it’s obvious that you’ll be saving animals. Because you won’t be consuming meat, you won’t be contributing to inhumane farming practices, and you won’t be contributing to animals being sent to the slaughterhouse. All you have to do to discover the horrors that farm animals go through is a simple internet search. Many undercover investigations at farms and slaughterhouses have proven for many years that what is most common in animal agriculture, is horrific conditions and abuse.
By changing the way that you eat and following a whole-foods, plant-based diet, you can get all of the nutrition that you need while indulging in a wide range of flavors. At the same time, you’ll be reducing the demand for animal products, so producers will need to turn to other modes of making money, such as investing in plant-based meat and dairy alternatives – something that many brands have already done in order to keep up with consumer demand around the globe.
The Plant-Based Diet Also Helps Wildlife
Following a plant-based diet does even more to help animals because it can also support wildlife. When you consider the immense amount of space required for factory farms and slaughterhouses, as well as the land that’s cleared for grazing free-range animals, and the pollution that’s caused by animal agriculture, you begin to understand the environmental impact that an animal-based diet has. Ranchers even go so far as to kill wildlife to protect their farm animals. And let’s not forget about overfishing, which is taking its toll on the oceans.
It’s clear to see that there are many great reasons to choose a compassionate diet to help animals every day, so go ahead and give it try.