Switching to veganism involves the openness to change in order to prevent suffering, the willingness to be creative and to cook healthy tasteful meals. It does take some work to learn what to eat and to get used to it. Of course, you will miss a few things at first, like cheese and milk chocolate but there are vegan alternatives available, so don’t despair.

In addition to the health benefits, the experience of SHARAN has been that this change in diet brings about a change in the emotional health of the person as well. The accounts of Dean Ornish’s patients in his book ‘Reversing Heart Disease’ also testify to this.

Many of our participants have experienced that fear, insecurity, lack of confidence, forsakenness as well as anger and violence and other stressful emotions dissolve just by making dietary changes, paving the way for personal and spiritual growth. Consuming foods from animal sources even in minute quantities brings back these negative feelings and the difference is clearly perceptible.

This can be explained by understanding the stress and emotions of the animals that we exploit for food. They are raised in stressful, unnatural conditions and slaughter itself is a stress. This raises their levels of adrenaline, which in turn we receive when we consume them or their products.

As long as there is conscious life on Earth, there will be suffering. The question becomes what to do with the existence each of us is given. We can choose to add our own fury and misery to the rest, or we can set an example by simultaneously working constructively to alleviate suffering while leading joyous, meaningful, fulfilled lives. Being a vegan isn’t about deprivation or anger. It’s about being fully aware so as to be fully alive. —Matt Ball, Vegan Outreach