I decided to go vegan last December (2015). Over winter break senior year, I probably spent too much time watching documentaries about the food industry and animal exploitation. Documentaries like Food Inc., Forks Over Knives, If Slaughter Houses Had Glass Walls, and Earthlings have helped me better understand and realize the disturbing and eye-opening puzzles of the normal, everyday American diet. I won't go off on a tangent to discuss the gory and twisty side of the food industry, rather I will focus on the environmental damage that meat and dairy have on our earth and why a vegan lifestyle improves one's "ecological footprint." Aside from the long list of personal health benefits, such as increased energy, healthier looking skin, weight loss, reduced risk of life-threatening diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer), there are many other scientifically proven benefits of veganism that the average Western diet does not provide. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Now, when I say “average Western diet” this includes all forms of meat, dairy, and eggs. This is what you might call an animal-based diet. In contrast, the vegan lifestyle eliminates all forms of animal products from the daily diet. As I like to describe it, essentially, veganism excludes any form of food that once had a face of its own, a mom or dad (seemingly silly, I know. But it's an easier explanation for people to understand). There are different forms of veganism, some more intense than others. The most efficient and environmentally friendly form of veganism turned out to be a purely plant-based diet. As for environmental benefits, according to Vegan Outreach, the livestock sector (chickens, pigs, cows) is responsible for approximately 18% of the dangerous greenhouse gas emissions into our air. CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions are some of the major contributors to the growing problem of global warming. Additionally, approximately 64% of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute heavily to acid rain, are also attributable to livestock. Clearly, with an increase in the need for livestock comes an increase in the need for land (to support all the animals). Land degradation has become an even more significant problem as pastures and fodder crops are in high demand. As a result, deforestation has increased. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), one of the largest animal rights organizations in the world, has a surplus of information on this topic, but I found great evidence regarding the large water pollution problem caused by the industry food. “Every day, factory farms produce billions of pounds of manure, which ends up in lakes, rivers and drinking water.” (PETA) Animal waste and fertilizer chemicals subsequently end up in bodies of water from which WE recover drinking water. “According to the EPA, agricultural runoff is the largest source of pollution in our waterways.” Certainly, my decision to switch to a cleaner, primarily plant-based diet had a lot to do with my emotional attachment to animals, but I was also looking for a way to create a healthier lifestyle for myself. My ecological or carbon footprint has now decreased significantly thanks to a more sustainable lifestyle and cleaner eating routine. The ecological footprint “measures the rate at which we consume resources and generate waste, compared to the rate at which nature can absorb our waste and,.