
Let’s face it, even though change is inevitable and humans are, in their very physical nature, “fluid” as opposed to “static," most of us would rather hang onto our tried and true routines with fingernails screeching across the blackboard of life in protest rather than step outside our comfort zones voluntarily. It’s just too much work. Unless, of course, what’s truly at stake is important enough. Statistics show that most of us can and do change when we’re powerfully motivated by strong emotions such as fear, loathing or even vanity. With those three feelings in mind, you, too, can become vegan and never even look in the rearview mirror at that sloppy, dripping cheeseburger that made your tongue happy for so many years. Here’s why:
Loathing: If you’re one of the few people who haven’t seen “Food, Inc.
Fear: It’s the great motivator of all time. From the days of cavemen running across the plains with a T-Rex in pursuit, nothing can change our minds like a healthy dose of panic. Flash forward to the present day and The China Study
Last, if the previous two reasons don’t light your fire, perhaps the simple concept of vanity will. Tired of trying to lose weight or merely the layer of fat around your waist? Eliminate the animal foods including dairy and watch the pounds melt away. Get rid of sugar and processed foods and you’ll never again avoid the mirror as you get out of the shower...guaranteed. Although vegan research is still relatively scanty, there are some very clear results. Vegans are significantly thinner but that also translates into lower blood pressure levels, blood cholesterol and LDL levels compared to omnivores and even other vegetarians. The lower weight means less of a chance of heart disease and a lower risk of diabetes and cancer. Vegan diets are richer in dietary fiber, higher in potassium and magnesium, folic acid, antioxidant foods and phytochemicals. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and nuts are all protective against chronic disease.
So let’s review: By eating a vegan diet, you can avoid adding to the torture and death of animals, save yourself from chronic disease

Kathryn is a former journalist and English teacher who now counsels and mediates teenage drama on a daily basis in the Dallas, Ft. Worth metroplex. Time away from school is spent cooking up new macrobiotic/vegan specialties, writing various blogs and newsletters and taking as many bikram yoga classes as possible.
Photo credit:cc:flickr.com/photos/kalevkevad