Veganism is a philosophical belief

I've not defended the meat industry.

Becoming vegan isn't a step in the right direction if you haven't actually worked out the difference in environmental impact in doing so. It's a lot more complex than just looking at solitary statistics about water usage etc. (nature already has a fantastic process for recycling water).

For each method of farming you would have to look at:
-the raw materials consumption required
-the emissions caused locally
-the impact on local biodiversity
-the impact on local economies
-the impact of storing the produce
-the impact of transporting the produce
all on a mass-production level

Right now, veganism is still a minority lifestyle. It's difficult to understand the impact of mass-producing high-protein vegan food because we've never done it before.

Not to mention the long-term mental health effects of cutting animal products out of your diet entirely. We evolved to extract the majority of our nutritional needs from animal products, much like a large chunk of the rest of the animal kingdom. You cannot expect to over-ride tens of thousands of years of biological evolution and not face problems that are bodies are not yet adapted for.

‘ Not to mention the long-term mental health effects of cutting animal products out of your diet entirely’

Wow, not even sure where to go with this tbh. Can only assume you’re either on the wind up, or haven’t really thought this through.

As for the rest of your post, that’s more of an over-population issue, than a dietary / ‘life style’ (by the way, seriously?!) one.

comment by Lexington 125.2 (U8879)
posted 44 minutes ago
‘ Not to mention the long-term mental health effects of cutting animal products out of your diet entirely’

Wow, not even sure where to go with this tbh. Can only assume you’re either on the wind up, or haven’t really thought this through.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read about it:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/diagnosis-diet/201709/the-vegan-brain

This is an area where the science is quite light at the moment but we will continue to learn more as veganism becomes more mainstream. Of course, it should be no surprise that nutrition plays a massive role in mental function, given that the brain is an organ just like any other.

Mental wellbeing is a major issue across all walks of life, and has been for a long while now - it’s only recently been recognised as such, which in itself hugely undermines the article you linked. Add to that it was almost certainly commissioned by an industry up to its neck in animal testing, tbh it’s hard to take it seriously.

Considering we’re posting on an article about veganism being legally recognised as a belief, I find it remarkable you refer to it as a lifestyle and still expect me to take you seriously.

As for your previous post about raw materials, emissions, biodiversity etc... three words for you:

Rainforests
Brazil
Beef burgers

If you’re genuinely interested in doing a bit more research into the subject, maybe give The Game Changers a spin. Personally I found it a little repetitive - though a basis message was interesting. But I know of at least 4 friends and work colleagues who’ve watched it and changed to vegan diets in the last few months.

Give it a go. You never know til you try...

I'm not sure you're arguing against what I've said

1. Yes it's an issue across all walks of life. Nutrition affects mental wellbeing. Deciding to radically alter one's nutrition sources without understanding the long-term impacts of it can lead to consequences that we cannot yet account for.

2. A belief is a mental concept. The eating habits which result from that are a lifestyle. Given that my original points were mostly about the eating aspect, and not the belief aspect, I don't see the relevance of your argument.

3. Rainforests/Brazil/beef burgers - again, I'm not sure what you're picking an argument with. The impacts of the meat industry are well-documented. The impacts of a large-scale switchover to an alternative protein-heavy vegan industry, not so much. Before deciding that the latter is greener, you would have to perform a thorough impact analysis.

I think you've jumped the gun a bit and gone into attack mode without having read what I've posted.

Pc gone mad

'Yes it's an issue across all walks of life.'

So you've no real basis for an argument here then.


'A belief is a mental concept. The eating habits which result from that are a lifestyle.'

Ethical veganism goes a lot deeper that merely a dietary requirement.


'The impacts of the meat industry are well-documented. The impacts of a large-scale switchover to an alternative protein-heavy vegan industry, not so much.'

In other words you're trying to argue facts against fear.


'I think you've jumped the gun a bit and gone into attack mode'

If that's the way it came across, then I apologise. Tbh everyone has their own choices to make. I made mine later in life than I would've, were I to do this all again. Whether people become vegan or not is of little concern to me.

It's unfortunate that Bellerin was chosen as an illustration because he is certainly a player that seems to lack testosterone