Vegan living is a lifestyle that involves avoiding the use of animal products and by-products in all aspects of life, including diet, clothing, cosmetics, and household products. The primary motivation behind vegan living is the belief that using animal products and exploiting animals for human purposes is morally wrong and unnecessary.
A vegan diet includes plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Vegans avoid all animal products, including meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, and any food containing animal-derived ingredients like gelatin or whey.
In addition to dietary choices, vegans also make conscious decisions about other areas of their lives to avoid exploiting animals. For example, they may avoid clothing made from animal materials like leather or wool, cosmetics tested on animals, and household products containing animal-derived ingredients.
Veganism is becoming increasingly popular due to concerns about animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and personal health. As a result, people choose to adopt a vegan lifestyle for one or more reasons.
Overall, vegan living involves a commitment to a lifestyle that prioritizes animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and personal health by avoiding the use of animal products in all areas of life.
The definition of veganism varies depending on the individual or organization, but vegans avoid exploiting all animals, including insects and microorganisms. Insects and microorganisms are classified as animals because they belong to the animal kingdom.
Therefore, most vegans avoid consuming insects and foods containing insect-derived ingredients, such as red colouring made from cochineal beetles. However, some vegans may make exceptions for microorganisms, such as yeast, used in food production, as they are not sentient beings and cannot feel pain or suffer. Ultimately, it is up to each vegan to determine their definition of veganism and make choices accordingly.