At a first glance, it may be confusing to see how being vegan can possibly save a life. However, there are many factors that come with veganism that correlate to a safer lifestyle. For example, take a look at COVID-19. The pandemic has completely turned over the world for the past year, causing many deaths, stunting the economy, and stopping many big events. When looking at the origins of coronavirus, it is highly speculated that the virus came from a “wet-market”, or a place where animals are slaughtered for food. Many diseases that humans have suffered from come from animals, the swine flu and the bubonic plague being prime examples. Therefore, wet-markets act as a breeding ground for diseases such as these, and with the constant human contact, it is clear to see how we can catch those diseases from animals.
Another issue with animal agriculture as a whole is that humans can build antibiotic resistance. With medical problems such as intestinal infections, antibiotics are needed to treat any serious complications. However, the foods that people consume may cause them to build a resistance to the medication and prevent their bodies from fighting the infection. Certain animals have antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their bodies for their survival against diseases. When they defecate, those bacteria are released from their bodies and can contaminate anything that it touches. The soil or bodies of water that the feces comes in contact with can be used to get resources from, which means that when people con meat, vegetables, or even water that has been contaminated by animal waste, they are consuming those antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Additionally, since the animals in wet markets are packed together, it is not uncommon for their feces to get on them and contaminate the slaughtering process.
To push for a plant-based diet is to push for a safer lifestyle. We have seen the drastic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we must do everything in our power to prevent something like that from happening again. With a decrease in meat consumption, there will be less of a demand for meat from wet markets. For the sake of the environment and for human lives, consider looking for plant-based alternatives for meat and dairy in your local grocery store!