Ten Tips: Switch to an Animal Free Lifestyle
If you're trying to switch to an animal-free lifestyle, here are some tips that could make the change easier and more successful.
Most people make the mistake of assuming that refusing to support the exploitation of animals means banning animal testing or refusing to eat meat. In reality, almost every aspect of your daily life can be adjusted to reduce animal cruelty.
1. Understand Why
Switching to an animal-free lifestyle, sometimes called a vegan lifestyle, is actually built on a philosophy of non-exploitation. Many people refuse to knowingly purchase sweat-shop products. Vegans seek to avoid the exploitation of other living things to support human lifestyle.2. Start Learning
Your new lifestyle will require that you be up-to-date on the latest information and trends in animal testing and exploitation. This means visiting relevant websites, reading a new list of magazines and maybe even attending local meetings of like-minded individuals.3. Start Reading Food Labels
It may not always be immediately apparent if animal-derived additives are present in your food choices. In fact, they tend to show up in the strangest places under the most interesting names. Once you know what you're looking for, they'll be easy to spot. But there's a little bit of a learning curve.4. Prepare to Give Up Some Traditions
Certain foods are linked with certain celebrations on the calendar. Maintaining a commitment to an animal-free lifestyle could be especially difficult at these special times. Prepare yourself and your family ahead of time and approach the event as a new adventure.5. Find New Family Favourites
Many people making the change report that one of the most challenging bits was giving up the food that had become a family favourite, a "comfort" food, or an honoured recipe handed down for generations. Instead of concentrating on what you've lost, celebrate the new foods you have found.6. Check Your Vitamins
Once you switch to an animal-free diet, you may not need to take vitamins or minerals any longer. However, if you or your doctor believe that vitamins are needed, opt for supplements that do not contain animal products and have not been tested on animals.7. Change Your Clothes If you're serious about going completely animal-free, you might need to update your wardrobe. Furs are an obvious no-no. Perhaps less obviously, your silks will need to go too. Trade in your leather belts for one made of hemp or jute.
8. Get New Shoes
If you want your cruelty-free lifestyle to go all the way down to your toes, you'll be happy to know there are animal-free shoes. You can leave your old leather shoes behind and slip into a nice, natural microfibre.9. Don't Forget to Accessorise
When you get animal-free clothes and shoes, surely you'll want the purse to match. Stylish accessories like purses, tote bags, and even guitar straps are available to complement your cruelty-free choices.10. Look Around the House
There are other products around your home that could have been tested on animals before coming to market. These include items like laundry detergent, bleach, washing-up liquid, air freshener and furniture polish. Switch to products made by companies that have been certified cruelty-free.So -- there you have ten tips for switching to an animal-free lifestyle. Perhaps the greatest advice of all is to take baby steps. There is no requirement to go totally animal-free tomorrow. Take you time and allow your body to adjust to what's going on. As the months pass, you will almost certainly feel healthier. And you'll definitely feel better about your impact on the lives of other living creatures.
