Why Vegan?

I've been asked quite often why I decided to go Vegan? I always struggle with this because I don't want to make people feel bad or awkward when I tell them. Do they really want to know?
I decided to go Vegan mainly for cruelty reasons. I don't like the way we treat animals before we kill them to eat them, infact, I don't want to kill animals at all. I LOVE animals. We have a cat, a dog, a guinea pig and 2 chickens. I would have more if I could!  I also HATE the way we treat our dairy cows and chickens for eggs. The only way to describe it is torture.
I never know how much detail to go into with this response without being gruesome. I encourage you to do research and watch documentaries. I'm including the titles of a few documentaries below I would encourage you to watch IF you're interested in learning more about WHY. I don't like to shove it down people's throats, however, it is important to spread the knowledge so you know what is going on behind "closed doors".

1) Earthlings (2005) This documentary is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, who is a known celebrity vegan. It is about the pathetic treatment of animals. The film uses hidden cameras to bring you shocking footage of what goes on behind closed walls of the meat industry.  Earthlings.com
2) Vegucated (2011) Vegucated is a documentary about 3 vegetarian guys who go vegan for 6 weeks, during their vegan journey, they uncover the dark side of animal agriculture.  GetVegucated.com
3) Forks Over Knives (2011) Forks Over Knives is a documentary more about the health reasons behind going vegan. It establishes a strong correlation between degenerative diseases and meat-based diet with some statistical proof. ForksOverKnives.com
4) Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014) This is a documentary that was crowdfunded that analyzes the policies of various organizations in the light of environmental impact of animal agriculture. Cowspiracy.com

There are many more awesome documentaries out there, these are just the top ones that popped in my head that I've personally seen and would recommend.

Besides cruelty purposes, I've also noticed a change in my health. My gut feels much better. I think I can attribute that mostly to cutting out dairy. Dairy products have negative effects on a lot of people, and there are so many delicious alternatives! Soy milk, almond milk, hemp milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, rice milk.... I've gotten many compliments on my skin since changing my diet too, which again, I feel like I can attribute to cutting out dairy. "You'll want to wear less makeup. No more spackling on the concealer: milk may be an acne trigger, so going dairy-free could also help you become zit-free. According to research from Dartmout Medical School, milk contains testosterone-like hormones, which may stimulate oil glands in the skin and contribute to breakouts." (http://www.prevention.com/health/what-happens-when-you-stop-eating-dairy)

I could literally go on and on about the benefits of becoming vegan...maybe I'll come back to this subject again when I have more time.

Being vegan has never been so easy. There are so many awesome alternatives now that it is easier than it ever has been before. I encourage you all to try it for 1 month and see how easy it can be and how amazing you feel! January is Veganuary which is a great time to try it out! www.veganuary.com

Peace.