Musing 14

You're vegan? But why?

Getting a variation of this question has become the norm since I started this journey, so Musing No. 14 is going to be a little special. It is my Vegan Manifesto to all inquiring minds, and to myself should I ever falter or waver. I hope you will find this deviation from my typical posts interesting and (dare I even hope?) reformative. The musing was never meant to be this long, but the more I wrote, the more I had to say. And the more I delved deeper, the more I learnt.

I'd love to hear what you think, so please free to leave a comment or question. 

Shall we begin?

Right off the bat I’d like to clarify that veganism is a lifestyle and not a diet. Early on I was asked by family member if I was transitioning in order to lose weight, and I was frankly a little insulted. Now, I realize that the question mostly comes from a lack of understanding and less from malice. To be vegan is to eliminate all types of meats, fish, eggs, dairy products and any other animal-derived substances (e.g. honey) from your diet. It is a lifestyle that questions the commoditization of animals and highlights its effect on the environment and health.

Up until two month ago, I was a staunch believer that life without a juicy burger was not a life worth living, and that an existence without cheese was a bleak one. My favorite Sunday meal was roast chicken, and on particularly stressful days I would find the KFC drive thru & Burger King on Mombasa road a great solace. Then one Sunday evening, I made the decision to give it all up. It’s not that I developed a deathly allergy to dairy overnight, neither did I receive a medical diagnosis that required me to give up meat. 

I watched one of the most insightful and compelling documentaries I’d ever seen, and just like that I made the decision to be vegan. 

But perhaps I am over simplifying it excessively. I did at first toy with the idea of being pescetarian or vegetarian. With the latter I could still allow eggs and dairy products into my diet, and the former even allowed for fish. That would have been an easier route instead of going “cold turkey”. But this debate I was having proved a great point against itself –it highlighted the magnitude of the cognitive dissonance we all suffer and which allows us to separate the act of butchering, from the neatly packaged food that winds up in our supermarkets. You see a package of bacon or sausages, you do not see the actual pig and the life it has been subjected to, nor how it was killed. We’ve grown up in a society that is staunchly omnivorous and our minds are very adept at justifying eating meat. “Meat protein is critical”;“Human beings are at the top of the food chain”; “Why should I care how animals are treated when they are going to be slaughtered anyway?” 

In the end, it always comes back to these three important ideas: Going vegan was going to be better for my health, it was good for the environment (even as I feared the minute impact), and ultimately it was the most humane and ethical way to lead life. 

If you’ve watched the documentary Earthlings you will have no problem appreciating the ethical concerns of animal agriculture. In fact, you would question humanities humanity in all the spheres we interact with animals: As pets or companions, as food, for clothing, entertainment and for science. A large majority of us practice what is called speciesism every single day of our lives, and we don’t even realize that that is what it is. But that is a musing for another time.

So, to answer the question, this is why I went vegan.

1. I did it for the environment

I am no Wangari Maathai but I do try my best to be a good occupant of this planet. We were always concerned about plastic usage and recycling in our household long before NEMA banned single-use plastics. We upcycle a lot of the things we buy in stores, and inadvertently use water wisely.

Without question, red meat is harmful to the environment. It has been cited as the single biggest cause of habitat destruction in the world. A lot of resources (land and water) goes into raising cattle on an industrial scale. Farming livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, chicken, and goats) also produces methane and nitrous oxide which are greenhouse gases, and which contribute to global warming to a staggering proportion. Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions - more than the combined exhaust from all transportation! Yes, you read that right. Transportation exhaust is responsible for 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Even more incredulous? Every year, these farm animals produce 130 times more waste than the entire human population combined. 

But nobody talks about this! 

What you do hear is carbon offsetting when flying, or reducing your carbon footprint at home, which are all necessary conservation efforts but no one talks about the livestock industry’s contribution. (I could go deeper on why this is the case but I fear that this will morph from elaborating on the positive impact of veganism on the environment into an essay on the growing influences of MNCs and the food industry across the world.) The simple reality is that given a choice between switching to a hybrid car where applicable/giving up your car entirely, or choosing a plant-based diet, switching to veganism would be the most effective in terms of environmental conservation.

Looking at the amount of land dedicated for pasture or to grow grain and crops for animals across the world, it can be argued that that land would be better used to grow food crops for the world’s population and aid in addressing famine. Simultaneously, animal agriculture also leads to deforestation – the world’s appetite for meat is ever growing but the size of this planet isn’t. In order to meet the growing demand and cash in on the profits in the industry, forests are cleared. Today a 1/3 of the planet is desertified, with livestock being the leading driver. And this doesn’t even touch on the water used to keep animal agriculture thriving. In the US it is estimated that growing feed crops for livestock consumes 56% of the fresh water. Further data shows that 18,927 liters of water are required to produce 1 kg of beef; 1,800 liters of water to produce 0.5 kg of eggs (approx. 12 eggs); almost 3,400 liters of water are needed for 0.5 kgs of cheese, while 1,000 liters of water are required to produce 1 liter of milk (2 x the Brookside milk packet of milk). 

I really wish there were Kenyan statistics that I could reference to illustrate this point but that kind of data is not available as far as my research allowed. A fairly accurate supposition would be that our usage of these resources is not nearly as great as that of the US or Europe (based on country’s level of development, demand, population size and technology). But you have to appreciate the fact that what is done continents away affects us all and this single planet we all call home. Global warming is not a issue affecting only one part of the hemisphere; water depletion is not a reality isolated to one side of the world. We all feel it. And we all need to realize that collective action begins with individual decisions. And for me, being vegan lets me do exactly that.

2. I did it for my health

So maybe this is not the most flattering disclosure, but I’ve had chronic constipation as far back as I can remember and taken just about every aid you can name. I've also endured endoscopy and colonoscopy, procedures that should be reserved for your enemies! If you have ever suffered any bout of constipation you know that the relief after is quite incomparable haha! 

Now imagine my elation to discover that my new vegan lifestyle was having a marked and significant improvement to my digestion system. That alone is a triumph, but to boot I felt so much better after meals! I’m sure that some of you know the kind of fullness you get to the pit of your stomach after eating steak, chicken, nyama choma, or a cheese burger? Many of us have come to consider that normal and a sign of being sated after a meal but it's not. For me, this further morphed into stomach discomfort. Last 2 months - eating is a delight! I find joy in searching for new plant-based recipes. In buying the produce and in the cooking. I relish the lightness that comes as I eat, and I adore the energy that I have even post-meals. No more feeling stuffed! Instead, a sense of repletion and nourishment. An added bonus is that I’ve also lost a couple of inches around my waist, my skin is the clearest it’s been in months (knock on wood), and while I may not be the energizer bunny, I have a great sense of effervescence (of body and spirit), and it shows in my renewed interest in outdoor and physical activities. 

3. I did it for my conscience

One of the loudest sentiments I get when I raise the ethical treatment of animals is that animals have no feelings and therefore we are not cruel to mistreat, kill and eat them. The truth is that all animals (fish included) have a nervous system. Please take a moment and recall high school biology. An organism with a central nervous system is capable of feeling pain – that simple. 

Let’s assume that this fact alone does not move you still – who cares if farm animals feel pain, they can't speak out and complain - how about the fact that animals have feelings and connections too? If you have a pet, you know this more acutely than others. In the wild we are quick to exult the fact that elephants have memories, grieve for lost loved ones and have matriarchal familial systems. If you have spent time with a horse or cow, or even seen a pig, sheep or goat with its offspring you have witnessed nurturing and familial bonding. And in the same breathe cognitive dissonance allows us to be comfortable with the killing of these animals in the most inhumane ways imaginable, yet also state one of the elements in the triad of sociopathy/homicide is the harming of animals.

There is a reason children are taken to zoos and not slaughterhouses, although both show little regard for the life of species we deem of lower value than our own. A reason why few of us have ever seen the inside of a slaughterhouse, let alone killed a single animal that we have eaten all our lives. A reason why the packet of sausages, bacon, or beef looks nothing like the animal it was. A reason why “Happy Cow” is branded on a box of cheese when the cows that produced the milk were anything but nothing. A reason why your steak is called beef not cow; your pie pork and not pig. As a wild shot in the dark, take a moment to consider why so many of us react so viscerally to the idea of the Yulin Dog Meat Festival while we do not bat an eyelid sitting down at our dinner tables, serving up beef stew to our families. After all, the local residents and festival organizers claim that these dogs are killed humanely, the meat is proven to be high in proteins, and dogs are animals just like pigs, sheep or goats. Challenge yourself to see beyond our natural cognitive dissonance.

It's a Man-Eat-Animal world out there

It’s been a little over two months since I made the transition and before then I had not noticed how our world is designed around omnivores. 

The vegetable and grain options in some of our local supermarkets and shops is surprisingly limited. In the plethora and abundance of vegetables grown and available, these shops are simply stunted, selling a limited variety of vegetables: No small wonder that many people think vegetables means only sukuma, cabbage and tomatoes. We also suffer from an unhealthy fear that these foods are expensive. You could count me in the number of the people who imagine that shopping at Zucchinis or at the vegetable section of supermarket is a reserve of the upper class. But left with no alternative I was pleasantly surprised. Not only are they priced fairly, some are even cheaper than the groceries in the estate. 

And such treasures I have found!! Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah lol), quick and easy to cook, wonderful flavor and a great alternative to rice. Tofu – the miracle food that can be transformed into a scramble, a burger, or fillet. And I'm speaking from having tried it all out. Jackfruit which is, dare I say, better than pulled pork in a sandwich. All wholefoods and plant-based, all healthy, filling and delicious. We have come to believe that we can only enjoy the flavor of beef or chicken in a stew. But these meats have no exciting flavors on their own. It is the preparation methods and spices, the seasoning that give them their flavor. Don’t buy it, try eating some boiled meat before adding seasoning.

Eating out is also an exercise in stubbornness and determination, and even then more often than not you may end up having a salad with fries. Not the most exciting thing to have to eat constantly when dining out. But some restaurants are courteous and a polite exchange with the waiter can make a huge difference. That said, Nairobi is still a far way off from being a culinary haven for vegans. I found an online announcement that Pizza Hut US had introduced a vegan pizza, but on reaching out to the Kenyan franchise I was reminded that everything takes a minute to trickle down to our corner of the world. 

A girl's quest for cruelty-free,eco-friendly pizza continues.... 

But I have heard wonderful things about places like Boho Eatery and I'm looking forward to trying them out. Vegan doesn't mean dull and unexciting, quite the opposite and I'm eager for more people to realize that. 

FAQ (or Questions that may be driving me closer to madness!)

After the initial disbelief or incredulous reaction I receive after explaining what it means to be vegan, many people inevitably turn into nutritionist! 

Someone who has never show any particular interest in human nutrition suddenly becomes grievously considered about my amino acids uptake! 

So here’s a short list of some of my favorite questions…

1. Protein? You have to eat meat for protein. All protein begins in plants. Only plants are capable of converting nitrogen found in air into protein, which is then ingested by animals when they eat the plants. Back to our favorite high school biology class: Humans produce eleven amino acids in their bodies and need to eat foods that have the remaining nine essential amino acids (top marks if you can name all twenty). Some plants/foods have all nine acids i.e. they are complete proteins. This includes but is not limited to quinoa, soya (whether it’s soy milk, edamame or tofu), chia and hempseed. Other plants have a selection of some of these acids and in combination make up all the nine. As long as legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits and vegetables are finding their way to your plate, you’re more likely to be getting more protein than you actually need. Protein deficiency (kwashiorkor) in an individual getting food on a consistent basis is a rare occurrence,and near unheard of in the developed world.

Eating meat gives you protein second-hand* (*my term, not scientific). Going vegan removes the middleman and the cholesterol, antibiotics, diseases, saturated fats, and hormones that comes with animal meat, dairy products and eggs. Insult to injury is the fact that in some cases, animal meat also contains carcinogenic compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are formed during processing or cooking. (It’s the reason why grilling meat directly is discouraged.) These “extras” that come with meat increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, significantly increases the risk of cancers, type 2 diabetes, strokes, obesity, and even the earlier onset of cognitive decline. In 2015 World Health Organization made headlines when it categorized processed meat as a carcinogen that increases the risk of colon or rectum cancer by 18 percent. 

Still not finding this information compelling? 

Well consider the fact that meat also carries the highest risk of fooborne illness - food poisoning, E. Coli, Salmonella. Meat and chicken in butcheries and supermarkets is often tainted with fecal contamination during slaughter or processing. And did you know there is an acceptable amount of pus (somatic cells) that is allowed in milk? In the US that is approximately 1,120,000 cells per spoonful which works out to about a drop per glass. I'm not sure what that level is in Kenya or whether it is even monitored. And while it is argued that in that level the pus is not harmful, would want even a drop of pus in your mouth?

Furthermore, animal products have various hormones in them. There are the naturally occurring sex and growth hormones like the ones found in cow’s milk designed to spur the calf’s growth after birth, as well as progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen (which most people do not requires more than what they already have in their own bodies). Then there are the artificially administered hormones (and antibiotics) used by growers in animal agriculture to hasten the growth of livestock and keep them healthy in unsanitary/crowded spaces.

Plant protein doesn’t have any of these risks and instead comes with fiber and antioxidants. Tell me again how that steak is better than these beans lol?

2. Can you get all the nutrients you need from plants? This question I prefer because it comes from a place of concern. It’s also the only one where the answer is not a resounding yes. Like vegetarians, vegans get all the nutrients required except for the elusive Vitamin B12. B12 is one of the eight B complex vitamins (I didn’t make this stuff up haha) and it is made by microorganisms found typically in animal products. The only reliable vegan (and vegetarian) sources of B12 are foods fortified with B12 (like soya milk, and nutritional yeast). This means taking the extra minute at the supermarket aisle to read a label (which trust me, as newly vegan you do already do a lot of) and selecting the product that has the fortification. If you’re still concerned about how often and if you’re getting enough of it, then B12 supplements are readily available to get the approx.17 micro-gram weekly level recommended. Please note that I have said a dietary supplement and not medicine.

3. But surely, white meat (chicken and fish) is better than red meat? My favorite response to this is borrowed from one doctor in the documentary What the Health: Choosing white meat over red meat is like choosing between being hang to death instead of being shot. All the concerns surrounding red meat consumption (cholesterol, fat, hormones, and antibiotics) also apply to chicken and farmed fish. Fish from fresh water or oceans/sea come with the additional dangers of mercury poisoning and the cumulative concentration that arises when little fish are eaten by bigger fish. The world’s oceans are also being over-fished. Supplying the world's demand for seafood is leading to species extinctions. Alas, there are no longer more fish in the sea in more ways than one. The WWF and other organizations estimate that if we continue fishing at the current rate there will be little or no fish left in the oceans by 2048, just 30 years from now. 

4. But aren’t milk and eggs an important part of a healthy diet? Now, personally speaking I have had a tumultuous relationship with dairy and eggs. I also do not enjoy the taste of raw milk and it only ever served to worsen my constipation. Any eggs I ate had to be scrapped free of the organs that attach the yolk to the shell and then near burnt for me to be able to eat them, thanks to a traumatic serving of eggs, sunny-side-up the Jacaranda hotel when I was 10. Being vegan and having to omit these items from my diet was the easiest (but not so easy on my baking).

Eggs are the single largest source of cholesterol with an approximate 213 milligrams for an average-sized egg. If you are healthy it is recommended that you have no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day, and less than 200 milligrams of cholesterol per day if you have high cholesterol, diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease. 

That single egg (egg yolk and egg white included) contains a shocking amount of fat and cholesterol. And that is after all because every egg contains all that is required to produce a new life. Within that egg shell lies the capacity to make feathers, eyes, a beak, a brain, a heart, a fully functioning life form. 

Ethically, eating eggs also leads to the slaughter of hundreds of millions of male chicks every year. A male chick will not produce eggs, and in a business of eggs this is a liability that is addressed by the destruction of male chicks. If the chick is female, it does get to live for a while longer. But this life is in giant sheds or warehouses holding hundreds of thousands of birds in tiny cages. Cages so small that the birds cannot stretch a wing. In these conditions there is no care for the behavioral health of these chickens which often resort to pecking each other (if they have not had their beaks burnt off). These chickens are also subjected to hormones and antibiotics to keep them healthy as a disease outbreak is inevitable in such cramped conditions and would mean monumental losses. Relegated to egg-laying machines, their natural lifespan of 15-20 years is shaved down to 1 to 2 years when they are slaughtered once their productivity declines. Chickens bred for meat are forced to grow to unnatural sizes (bigger breasts and drumsticks are the goals) and at unnatural speeds to meet an increased demand and get quicker returns. 

Some people then say that is why they only eat kienyeji (organic) chicken and eggs, or meat from upcountry – the chickens are free to roam, and the animals are generally spared the battery of drugs and are therefore healthier and more humanely treated. Bottom line - all of justifications are to make you feel less guilty for buying and eating a product that is always cruel. The level of cruelty may fluctuate slightly (organic or factory farmed) but to the animals, cruel is always cruel. And an organic egg still has all the cholesterol of a regular egg.

Globally and here in Kenya, since the era of maziwa ya Nyayo, we have been raised on the idea that cow milk is one of the healthiest foods for children, and essential for calcium and bone strength. And many people believe that dairy isn’t a bad thing because an animal doesn’t have to die in order for you to get it like in the case of meat. Sadly that is not the case.

Here’s the reality; the only perfect, healthiest food for babies is a mother’s breastmilk. This milk has the perfect balance of nutrients and contains the lowest fat content of all mammal produced milks. There’s also a reason why a cow produces milk. Same reason that we, as mammals also produce milk – for her calf, and it too has all the nutrients, all the hormones needed for the calf’s growth. The crux of it is that there is no other species on this earth that willingly drinks milk past infancy from an animal of a different species than their own except for humans. 

Personally, I see no resemblance... 

Further, the benefits we obtain from cow milk are greatly outweighed by the consequences and problems that comes with its consumption. To get this well-marketed product, cows have to be kept in near constant cycle of pregnancy and birth, and must be fed antibiotics to combat common cases of mastitis (that contributes to the somatic cells, aka pus, that I shared earlier). Calamitously, our bodies are also not designed to ingest another specie’s milk, and this is the reason many people are ‘lactose-intolerant’. Those who do not manifest obvious signs of intolerance do not realize that the effects are masked with internal inflammation. There are lots of plant-based alternatives to cow’s milk: Rice milk, Soy, Almond, Potato, Pea, Hemp milk, which are all nutritious and that are more readily available than many people realize. 

What we also have to appreciate is that if more people opt for healthier, more humane products, it will lead to an increased demand for those products and the food industry will rise to the occasion and supply. That is why every single person adopting a healthier lifestyle counts. One becomes five, becomes twenty, becomes many. Think of the recent polythene bag ban. There was a general discomfort and resistance but once the legislation came to effect there was an increased demand for environmentally friendly bags, and while at first you had a wild surge, the market adjusted and now the eco-friendly bags are to be found at every corner and at a range of pricing to fit all pockets. There is a lot I could add to this; the fact that like male chicks, male cows on dairy farms are in danger. That there is a reason why veal meat is predominantly from male calves. And that the conditions that these calves must be put in in order to get their meat tender is equal parts shocking as it is heartbreaking. But I’ll stop there.

5. But we were designed to eat meat? Slice it any way you want but the truth is that humans don’t have specialized, genetic, anatomical, or physiological adaptations for meat consumption. There is an extensive body of work comparing herbivores, carnivores and omnivores and the summary facts are that our distinctly longer digestive tracts are to allow for sufficient time for the hard-to-process plants and fibers that should be in our diet to be digested. Carnivores in contrast have shorter tracts so that the flesh consumed does not begin to petrify before being digested. 

Even our short flat teeth carry evidence. As we eat, we use our molars to chew, like herbivores do and not our canines. In the past months every time I see a photo comparing humans to carnivores and herbivores I feel like asking if they believe humans can swallow chunks of meat whole like a lion or tiger can? We don’t even like the sight of blood! Last thing, even the way our bodies’ process cholesterol isn’t that of a carnivore. True carnivores can ingest unlimited cholesterol and it have no effect on their circulation (heart & arteries) system. This is not true for humans.

6. But aren’t vegetables unsafe too? The briefest response to this is that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweighs the risks of pesticides, and is not comparable to a diet of meat. If you weigh the pros and cons of meat versus eating even pesticide-laden plants, plants would still be the better option. 

Another way to look at it is that animals eat plants and should they be laden with chemicals, the pesticides accumulates in their flesh in much higher concentrations. You'd have to eat all the pesticide-laced plants a cow eats to accumulate the same amount of pesticides in its flesh that you would eat when you eat the meat. Have you seen how much a cow eats every day?! The bottom line remains: The best thing you can do is consume lots of vegetables and fruit for their health benefits, whether you choose to buy organic (guaranteed to be free of chemicals but conversely very costly and difficult to come by) or not.

7. So, what do vegans eat anyways? Joy! A question I love getting, because people fixate on the handful of animal products we do not eat and forget the plethora of grains, beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits, and the nearly infinite number of foods made by combining them that exist. What’s more, there are vegan alternatives (healthier, sustainable and cruelty-free) to many common foods: burgers made from tofu (I made some killer tofu burgers a couple of weekends ago and as the resident burger-connoisseur I can report it tasted as good as any), vegan cheese (my weakness). Spaghetti, peanut butter sandwiches, french-fries (my ultimate comfort food) and salsa. A Thai curry made using coconut milk is vegan. Pasta with tomato bolognese sauce, or another non-meat and non-dairy sauce is vegan. 

For the past 2 months I have explored new foods and now eat a more varied diet than I ever did! I still can't imagine I have spent over 3 decades on this planet and never tasted jack fruit or quinoa before haha! 

Because a meme sometimes makes everything easier to understand lol! 

Final Musings

• Try every new thing at least twice. I think this goes even beyond food and applies to many areas of our lives. 
• Be curious about veganism. Learn, read and talk. Join all the FaceBook groups you can find and see which you find the most useful. Follow instagram accounts that advocate for a plant-based diet and see if you will not be amazed that trading in meat doesn't have to mean a less joyful palate.
• Remember you still have to make healthy eating choices even if animal products are not part of your diet. Sodas, Oreos, Crisps and French-fries are all vegan and if your meals revolve around them and other processed foods your health will deteriorate and you will resort to old eating habits. 
• Nutrition is not animal products. 

I tend to agree with the argument that the world's most dangerous myth is that meat is necessary for protein, strength and optimal health. An increasing number of world class athletes and competitors have proved and continue to thrive and excel on vegan diets. Nt to be a fangirl but it's commendable to see Lewis Hamilton, Venus Williams, Scott Jurek, Meagan Duhamel (did you see her at the concluded Winter Olympics?! Amazing), Arnold Schwarzenegger all speaking up. They are all testament to the fact that you don’t need meat to have strength. Have you even ever seen an ox eat meat? 

The hardest part of transitioning to a vegan is outside my home. Family and friends are quite receptive to the idea and will do what they can to accommodate you. I have a wonderful friend who I call my ride-or-die. She once called out someone who arbitrarily changed menu options for an event without taking into consideration that the veggie items were for someone. You have to just love those kind of people. 

But outside your home and circle there will be people who think you are prissy or snobbish. Either because you do not feel like telling every single person you meet that you are vegan and that is why you haven’t had that bite of chocolate or nyama choma, or because you have told them and they do not appreciate your decision. I was initially taken aback by the downright hostile response some people would have,but I have learnt that it comes from the fear that you may be condemning their choices by making your own. But that's farthest from the truth. I want my choice to be vegan to be a challenge to others: a challenge to learn more about the science and evidence advocating for a plant-based lifestyle, a challenge to change such a deeply entrenched habit like meat consumption, and a challenge to be more conscious of other beings other than ourselves.

What we eat has a major impact on our health, environment and consciousness in every ways we can measure and it may be worth taking a moment to muse over the food choices we make every day.

If you made it this far, thank you! I have a feeling that this path I'm on will led to more musings ;)