When most people thing of going vegetarian (or vegan), they think of reducing intake of meat. The do not, however, typically consider giving up animal byproducts as well. Of course there are many reasons why people choose a vegetarian life style. Some do it to lose weight, others want to eat healthier, and many (like myself) see it as a means of protesting harmful factory farming practices that are cruel to animals and unhealthy for humans and the environment. If you fall into the last category, you may want to think beyond the dinner plate when it comes to animal consumption because I’ve got news for you; animal products aren’t only found in your food. Of course there are the obvious signs of animal byproducts- leather, medicines and cosmetics tested on animals, fur coats, snake skin boots, etc. But, shockingly, there is a sea of consumer products which surreptitiously include animal byproducts. Take a look at the Daily Beats’s slide show to learn more about these products and how to avoid them.
Where you draw the line in your vegetarian lifestyle is a personal choice, of course. For example, I love leather goods but hate the idea of supporting harmful farming practices. So I compromise by buying used leather products when I can find them or opting for faux. It’s entirely up to you.
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What a great post! I became vegan for health reasons but I am learning more and more about factory farming and that inspires me to extend that to other areas of my life besides food. Thanks for sharing the link!