When you hear the phrase vegan, you may conjure up images of tofu and Tofurkey, as well as fresh veggies and legumes. But did you know that veganism is more than just a diet? A burgeoning vegan movement focuses on the objective of causing as little harm to our ecosystem as possible. For that purpose, devotees refrain from wearing particular types of clothes and activities, as well as eating certain foods.
What is the vegan diet?
Veganism is described as a style of life that seeks to eliminate all types of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether for food, clothing, or any other reason. As a result, a vegan diet abstains from all animal products, including meat, eggs, and dairy. People select a vegan diet for a variety of reasons. These mainly vary from ethical to environmental concerns, but they can also be motivated by a desire to better one’s health.
According to University of Oxford studies, being a vegan is the “single largest approach” to lessen your environmental effect. That is before you consider the ethical concerns against eating industrially farmed animals, who have a deplorable quality of life and are frequently pumped full of potent antibiotics that may endanger human health.
One of the most visible developments associated with the rise of veganism is the increase in vegan food items. Almost every product traditionally manufactured from animal byproducts, such as cheese, milk, meat, and eggs, now has vegan substitutes. This increase in availability has been fueled by an increase in the number of vegans in the United States; one poll discovered a 300 percent increase in the number of persons identifying as vegans between 2004 and 2019.
A vegan diet saved the life
Mika Altidor, award-winning vegan baker and author of the cookbook “Chasing Vegan,” is making a difference in her neighborhood and throughout the country by sharing her story of how a plant-based diet saved her life. Altidor and her boyfriend, Victor Munoz, are spreading the word about how a plant-based diet can drastically improve your health.
Altidor’s journey began over a decade ago. Altidor was in high demand as a stylist. She was courted by media outlets all over the country as she glammed up celebrities with her legendary jewelry collection, which featured statement items that celebrities coveted.
She quickly found herself bent over in acute stomach discomfort on many occasions. She worked relentlessly to build her business while rationalizing her condition of discomfort.
Altidor found herself at the doctor’s office, unable to ignore the very painful pain any longer, to learn that she had three huge tumors developing on the exterior of her uterus. This is when the game shifted, and she realized she needed to make a choice. She began to embrace the vegan lifestyle after researching plant-based living. After several years, Altidor’s health has improved dramatically without surgery, and she now lives with tumors that have nearly vanished. Altidor emphasizes, “It was a mind-shift and an intentional way of living.”
The vegan bakery is born
Following her rehabilitation, Altidor and her partner, Victor Munoz, realized they had to make a difference in the central Florida neighborhood. “We felt we had to provide our community with vegan alternatives that tasted great.” Altidor jumped into her next project, Victor & Mika’s Bakery, with her creative flare for the fancy. The headquarters of this emporium of delectable cakes, pastries, and savory pleasures is located in Winter Haven, Florida.
Victor & Mika’s Bakery is now a vital part of the community and the county’s sole vegan bakery. The baking pair is now spreading their inspiring tale through their new cookbook, “Chasing Vegan,” which is available on Amazon. The couple works diligently with humanitarian groups such as Meals-Not-Bombs, Orlando, where they give delicious food to the destitute in their community. This dynamic team has been spotted on the epidemic’s front lines, contributing cakes, pastries, and plant-based menu items to the personnel at local hospitals.