Demystifying vegans

Sometimes I think that veganism is one of the last misunderstood bastions of our time. I mean, I don't even think psychics cop as much stigma and sneering as poor old vegans! I suppose most people have some understanding of what a psychic actually is, or what the word means, whereas 'vegan' seems to raise two questions: a) What is a vegan, exactly? and b) WHY would anyone choose to live that way?

To answer these questions for you, I've gone straight to a very passionate New Zealand vegan, authoress of the gorgeous and fun Diary of a Vegan blog. She discovered her raw food / vegan obsession while living in Los Angeles and has had plenty of culture shocks since, coming back in contact with old family members and the Aussie country town she grew up in, where everyone chucks a steak on the barbie, swills beer and thinks tofu is for crackpots. Even in NZ, she documents some of the confusion she constantly confonts while ordering in restaurants.

So here, in Shannon Dunn's own words, are the answers to the above questions; and if you want to know more, her blog is an awesome place to start. (And can I just add that from a spiritual point of view, as someone who channels a lot for a living, eating the cleanest, purest, most organic and least cooked foods possible - those still zinging with fresh 'life force' - is a very powerful way to reduce energetic 'static' and connect you to Source).

"I became vegan about a year and a half ago. I skipped the vegetarian bit (although I'd given up red meat some years earlier) and dived straight into the vegan pool, to realise I'm a strong swimmer. But to swim well, I've discovered, you need to have reasons for doing it. In my pool, there are plenty of sharks to keep me on task. The more reasons you have for becoming vegan, the less it feels like a diet. The more reasons, and being vegan simply becomes a fabulous way of life.

"Here's the deal. Leading a lifestyle free of animal products (spanning food, fashion and anything in between) isn't about joining an exclusive club. It's also not a religion. Sure, when you have a solid understanding as to why going vegan is a great health choice for you and the planet it's hard not to get excited. Heck, I've wanted to shout it from the rooftops (and to the nearest butcher) on occassion. But if there's one thing I have learned on my journey so far, it's that everyone is on their own path of discovery.

So what are my main reasons for going vegan? Here's a very brief outline:

I've been allergic to dairy from birth and never gone ga-ga over steak and sausages. Being dairy and meat free is the healthiest choice for my mind and body (and soul, but that's a whole post on it's own ... stay tuned for that one);

I believe animals have as much right to be on the planet as I do. It wouldn't be right for me to take an animal's life when I can survive perfectly well on all the other goodies God's green earth provides. If it's ludicrous to eat a horse, what makes eating a cow any different?

The biggest cause of global pollution comes from the raising and slaughtering of animals. Being vegan is the greenest thing you can do.
Contrary to what we've been told to believe, cow's milk isn't good for you. It's full of chemicals, hormones and pus (yes pus) that humans shouldn't consume. Get calcium from raw leafy greens such as spinach, kale, turnip greens, cabbage, collard, seaweeds, alfalfa and broccoli.