Reason for Vegan?

ESVABelle

In a previous thread, there was a discussion regarding veganism. It sparked my curiosity. And while some of my questions have been answered by Google, Wiki and other vegan MFP users I'm grateful to have met, I wanted to open this up to public forum:

What is your reason for being vegan?

According to what I've found, there are two kinds of vegans - dietary and ethical. A dietary vegan is just what it sounds like, avoids consuming animals and animal byproducts in their diet, but continue to wear/use animal products like leather, fur or lotion tested on animals. An ethical vegan is someone who avoids consumption completely, in food and goods.

Some vegans don't consider dietary vegans "real" vegans and...I don't know...I'd just like a little more clarification on the subject, I guess. Please feel free to enlighten me. :-)

LaurenAOK

I am a vegetarian, not a vegan. But I saw this post titled "The Vegan Arguments" on a blog the other day, and I thought it was awesome information. A lot of it can apply to vegetarianism as well.

The vegan arguments....

The Hunger Argument

Number of people worldwide who will die of starvation this year: 60 million
Number of people who could be adequately fed with the grain saved if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10%: 60 million
Human beings in America: 243 million
Number of people who could be fed with grain and soybeans now eaten by U.S. livestock: 1.3 billion
Percentage of corn grown in the U.S. eaten by people: 20
Percentage of corn grown in the U.S. eaten by livestock: 80
Percentage of protein wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 90
How frequently a child starves to death: every 2 seconds
Pounds of potatoes that can be grown on an acre: 20,000
Pounds of beef produced on an acre: 165
Percentage of U.S. farmland devoted to beef production: 56
Pounds of grain and soybeans needed to produce a pound of feedlot beef: 16

The Environmental Argument

Cause of global warming: greenhouse effect
Primary cause of greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels
Fossil fuels needed to produce a meat-centered diet vs. a meat-free diet: 50 times more
Percentage of U.S. topsoil lost to date: 75
Percentage of U.S. topsoil loss directly related to livestock raising: 85
Number of acres of U.S. forest cleared for cropland to produce meat-centered diet: 260 mllion
Amount of meat U.S. imports annually from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
and Panama: 200,000,000 pounds
Average per capita meat consumption in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
and Panama: less than eaten by average U.S. house cat
Area of tropical rainforest consumed in every quarter-pound hamburger: 55 sq. ft
Current rate of species extinction due to destruction of tropical rainforests for meat grazing and other uses: 1000 per year

The Cancer Argument

Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat meat four times a week vs. less than once a week: 4 times
For women who eat eggs daily vs. less than once a week: 3 times
For women who eat butter and cheese 3 or more times a week vs. less than once: 3 times
Increased risk of fatal ovarian cancer for women who eat eggs 3 or more times a week vs. less than once a week: 3 times
Increased risk of fatal prostate cancer for men who consume meat, cheese, eggs and milk daily vs. sparingly or not at all: 3.6 times

The Natural Resources Argument

User of more than half of all water used for all purposes in the U.S.: livestock production
Amount of water used in production of the average cow: sufficient to float a destroyer
Gallons to produce a pound of wheat: 25
Gallons to produce a pound of meat: 2,500
Cost of common hamburger if water used by meat industry was not subsidized by the U.S. taxpayer: $35 a pound
Current cost of a pound of protein from beefsteak, if water was no longer subsidized: $89.
Years the world’s known oil reserves would last if every human ate a meat-centered diet: 13
Years they would last if human beings no longer ate meat: 260
Barrels of oil imported into U.S. daily: 6.8 million
Percentage of fossil fuel energy returned as food energy by the most efficient factory farming of meat: 34.5 percent.
Percentage returned from least efficient plant food: 328 percent
Perccentage of raw materials consumed by U.S. to produce present meat-centered diet: 33

The Cholesterol Argument

Number of U.S. Medical Schools: 125
Number requiring a course in nutrition: 30
Nutrition training received by average U.S. physician during four years in medical school: 2.5 hours
Most common cause of death in the U.S.: heart attack
How frequently a heart attack kills in the U.S.: every 45 seconds
Average U.S. man’s risk of death from heart attack: 50 percent
Risk for average U.S. man who avoids the meat centered diet: 15 percent
Risk for average U.S. man who consumes no meat, dairy products or eggs at all: 4 percent
Amount you reduce risk of heart attack if you reduce consumption of meat, dairy products and eggs by 10 percent: 9 percent
Amount you reduce risk if you reduce consumption by 50 percent: 45 percent
Amount you reduce risk if you eliminate these foodstuffs from your diet entirely: 90 percent
Meat, dairy and egg industries claim you should not be concerned about your blood cholesterol if it is: “normal”
Your risk of dying of a disease caused by clogged arteries if your blood cholesterol is “normal”: over 50 percent

The Antibiotic Argument

Percentage of U.S. antibiotics fed to livestock: 55
Percentage of staphylococci infections resistant to penicillin in 1960: 13
Percentage resistant in 1988: 91
Response of European Economic Community to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: ban
Response of U.S. meat and pharmaceutical industries to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: full and complete support

The Pesticide Argument

Percentage of pesticide residues in the U.S. diet supplied by grains: 1
Percentage of pesticide residues in the U.S. diet supplied by fruits: 4
Percentage of pesticide residues in the U.S. diet supplied by vegetables: 6
Percentage of pesticide residues in the U.S. diet supplied by dairy products: 23
Percentage of pesticide residues in the U.S. diet supplied by meat: 55
Pesticide contamination of breast milk from meat eating mothers vs. non-meat eating: 35 times higher
What USDA tells us: meat is inspected
Percentage of slaughtered animals inspected for residues of toxic chemicals including dioxin and DDT: less than 0.00004

The Ethical Argument

Number of animals killed for meat per hour in the U.S.: 500,000
Occupation with highest turnover rate in U.S.: slaughterhouse worker
Occupation with the highest rate of on-the-job injury in U.S.: slaughterhouse worker
Cost to render animal unconscious with “captive bolt pistol” before slaughter: 1 cent
Reason given by meat industry for not using “captive bolt pistol”: too expensive

There you have it, PLENTY of reasons haha

deadstarsunburn

I was vegetarian all my life than on a whim decided to try being vegan.
I liked the weight loss that came with it and I think I had a slight intolerance for dairy because I almost instantly felt less sluggish.
I just enjoy it. All the reasons above are added benefits but really it's for me lol.

anastasiawildflower

For me it starts with one and snowballs into an all encompassing belief. I was a vegetarian for years and soon it didn't make much sense. I started reading and the Vegan Sourcebook (mainly) convinced me that it is not other better for myself, but everyone involved. My best friend and I created vegan weeks once a month. At 16, it was so hard :laughs: and we were just buying unnecessary boxed stuff at the co-op to share. I've definitely grown and learned far more. It isn't just about the little baby animals anymore, it is about myself and surrounding environment. So I guess I am more the ethical type.

gingerb85

I initial became vegan for health reasons. My cholesterol had been over 200 since age 25 and I didn't eat a high-fat diet. High cholesterol and heart disease on my dad's side of the family, diabetes and other endocrine disorders on my mother's side, and I was feeling a bit paranoid. My dad went vegan 10+ years ago to reduce his sky-high (over 400) cholesterol after medication failed to help. His cholesterol is under 150.

I have never felt better in my life. My stomach issues that have plagued me since childhood have disappeared. Go figure - I am lactose intolerant. My cholesterol dropped to 168. I have finally found energy and have started exercising and losing weight.

But since starting this journey for my health, I have read and viewed a lot of information about how animals are raised for consumption. I find it sickening and do not think I could ever go back to eating animal products again. So I guess I was initially a vegan for health, but have now added ethics to the mix as well. :^)

sammybey

I am going vegan mainly for health, but also for the environmental aspects. I guess right now I am "flexitarian" in that I keep a vegan kitchen at home, but mainly eat vegetarian/ sometimes pescetarian outside of home. I'm planning to become a bit more strict in the upcoming months and really focus on making the change completely.

But I'm probably not considered a "real" vegan as I do eat local honey (now, at least.. maybe I'll give it up in the future) and wear leather. Again, maybe I'll give that up in the future but I'm not about to throw away good shoes or makeup that may have been tested on animals .., just become more aware for future purchases.

claram5415

I too became vegan for health reasons as I had to have surgery due to clogged arteries! And I don't smoke, exercise, etc. Since going vegan, my cholesterol ranges from 133-148, down from 200+. Now even though I'm not considered a "real" vegan by some, if more people went vegan for health reasons, it would not only affect the climate of health in our country, but the benefits to animals, and environment would be great also. So I don't care why you switch, I just encourage people to change their habits.

Bentley2718

I'm vegetarian, transitioning to vegan (cold turkey works for some people, I'm not one of them). The long list of reasons above pretty much sums it up. I got to the point where I realized the only good thing about dairy and eggs was that they tasted good--and an animal (and the planet) shouldn't have to suffer for a moment of my enjoyment.

_VoV

Many ethical vegans want health-oriented plant eaters called something else besides vegan. These people see veganism as an all-encompassing lifestyle and world view which extends beyond diet.

I believe that historically, the word 'vegan' applied to a whole lifestyle that avoided the purchase/consumption of animal products. It went beyond diet, and included avoidance of leather, wool, silk, cleaning products with animal ingredients or tested on animals. Even forms of entertainment like rodeos and circuses have been avoided by many vegans who hold to that ethic.

Veganism and/or plant-based eating is gaining mainstream recognition, and as it does, the term is morphing in many different directions. As that happens, some original 'vegans' who avoid animal byproducts in things other than food are no longer calling themselves 'vegan' because many think the term is being diluted.

Vegan is NOT NECESSARILY oil-free, gluten-free, etc. Simply stated, it is not buying or using animal products whenever possible.

If you are interested in some interesting perspectives on vegan/veganish thinking, check this out: http://www.carpevegan.com/

veganbaum

I am vegan for ethical, health, and environmental reasons. Primarily ethical, but environmental is a close second, and my blood work, etc, is amazing.

VergingOnVegan gave a very nice explanation. Veganism can cause all sorts of debates within and without the community. Many dietary vegans prefer to say they follow a "plant-based diet" as "vegan" does have a certain ethical connotation. Some of the biggest debates within the community tend to over things like honey, sugar, and wearing of already owned animal products. Many (kind of the PETA vegans, I love a lot of what PETA does, but I also think they can really scare people away with some of their tactics) vegans will staunchly hold that you are not a vegan if you consume honey, nonvegan sugar, wear old animals products, don't research your beauty products, go to zoos, etc. I personally think *some* of it creates unnecessary tension, but the use of the term "plant-based diet" can avoid some of that.

I try to live as ethically as possible, my goal being to reduce suffering where I can. So, I do not currently consume honey or nonvegan sugar, but I don't consider those who do nonvegans. I do, however, wear old shoes that are leather, which for some would mean I'm not vegan. But then comes in my environmental beliefs - I see no reason to waste what I already have and I simply cannot afford to donate it and replace it with nonvegan alternatives, as much as I would really, really like to. So I have to wait for them to wear out, and not buy new animal products. I use minimal beauty products. I am scent sensitive and health conscious, so for me finding products that are not tested on animals and contain no animal ingredients is pretty easy since I look for natural products and not all the chemical-laden stuff. I absolutely do not support using animals in zoos or circuses or medical testing. Again, I try to make choices that reduce suffering as much as possible. I am not living in a third world country. I am not a member of an indigenous tribe following ancient ways. There is simply no reason that I need to contribute to the suffering of animals for my (fleeting) gustatory pleasure (and it's not like I didn't like meat and cheese) - and living in an industrialized nation I can make other choices and live quite happily without deprivation.

To end - I know many vegans who started out for one reason and as they learned more other reasons followed. Oftentimes they just stopped eating animals, but then also became more conscious about their clothing and beauty products. My first step was simply taken for ethical reasons. It doesn't much matter to me what a person's reasons are, after all, we all ended up in the same place. However, I think it is very important to note that in the U.S. farmed animals are not protected by any federal law for their lifetimes, and nearly all state laws either exempt them from their anti-cruelty laws altogether or allow the practices that are inhumane - which is effectively exempting them from protection anyway. I find this very, very disturbing. Companion animals get a lot of protection, but farmed animals make up 98% of all animals that humans in the U.S. regularly interact with and they have no protection for their day-to-day welfare. So, that's ONE reason (and only one) why it's an ethical choice for me.

danmoffett

Vegan or vegetarian. Both are unhealthy for you.
You should read a book called "The Vegetarian Myth" by Lierre Keith. She was a vegan for 20 years and it almost killed her. There are several interviews on line. Just type in her name on YouTube and you'll see several interviews.

"What we eat is destroying both our bodies and the planet, according to author Lierre Keith, a recovering twenty-year vegan. While she passionately opposes factory farming of animals, she maintains that humans require nutrient-dense animal foods for good health. A grain-based diet is the basis for degenerative diseases?we take for granted?(diabetes, cancer, heart disease) - diseases?of civilization. Annual grain production is destroying topsoil and creating deserts on a planetary scale.? Lierre urges the restoration of perennial polycultures for longterm sustainability."

Review:
"Everyone who eats should read this book. Everyone who eats vegetarian should memorize it . . . This is the single most important book I’ve ever read on diet, agriculture, and ecology." —Aric McBay, author, What We Leave Behind

"This book saved my life . . . [It] offers us a way back into our bodies, and back into the fight to save the planet." —Derrick Jensen, author, Endgame

"[Vegetarian Myth] is one of the most important books people, masses of them, can read, as we try with all our might, intelligence, skill, hope, dream , and memory, to turn the disastrous course the planet is on." —Alice Walker, prize-winning author, The Color Purple

"We may not want to face the facts, but Keith sees this as no excuse to stay in denial. If delivered as a speech, you could see that no one in the audience would be [seated] at the end. I have never seen such rousing prose." —www.ZoeHarcombe.com (August 7, 2011)


"In The Vegetarian Myth ex-vegan Lierre Keith argues that saving the planet and ending the suffering found in factory farms can not be achieved by refusing to eat animals, it can only be achieved by boycotting modern agricultural practices, which Keith calls 'the most destructive thing that people have done to the planet.'" —www.mercola.com


You should read this book before you go vegan.

MDWilliams1857

^^^^ Yep. Humans are meant to eat both plants and animals. A diet that leaves out one or the other is not healthy.

MDWilliams1857

As far as all the nonsense about the environment and destroying the planet, well, I will just leave that alone.

_VoV

@DanMoffett. Please understand that I believe you sincerely believe this.

I spent 20 years as a medical information specialist, finding refereed medical research literature to address specific clinical problems in a hospital setting. That means that I am pretty demanding of my sources, and have a high standard for research validity and reliabilty.

I will listen to anecdotal reports such as the one by Lierre Keith, and I may even conclude there was something about her constitution that made veganism sub-optimal for her. But, I will not take a case study of one, and apply it to all of humankind.

I have been a vegetarian for almost 40 years. Grew two healthy babies with plants. Raised two lifelong vegetarians (normal height, weight, and ahead of schedule academically, e.g. my 19 year-old graduated college in May, and is now in law school). Do you want to use MY anecdote to determine optimal nutrition? I doubt it, if you want to prove that meat, paleo or whatever you want to call it is superior.

daffodilsoup

I don't believe that animals exist for the benefit of humankind. They are not ours to exploit.

Also, I believe that vegans are vegan and that is that. There's a part of the vegan community that seems to enjoy pointing out that they are "veganer" than others - this is silly and counterproductive. Any time a person chooses veganism, dietary or ethical, they are taking a step toward a more compassionate lifestyle. None of us is perfect (though it's fine to strive for perfection!) so each of us can only do our best in our given situations.

MDWilliams1857

I do. Plus they taste good.

daffodilsoup

^^^^ Yep. Humans are meant to eat both plants and animals. A diet that leaves out one or the other is not healthy.

What exactly is unhealthy about meeting all your calorie, macro- and micronutrient needs?

_VoV

For all the meat-eaters who are joining this very polite discussion about what the word 'vegan' means, I give you this:

http://vegansaurus.com/post/254784826/defensive-omnivore-bingo

Bear in mind, that I have been that young fire-breathing vegan in the past, and am now very much in a 'Live and let live' state of mind. Of course, if people get all argumentative with me over a 40-year life choice which is core to my being, I will ask you very politely what your problem is.

_VoV

I do. Plus they taste good.

Deep...very deep.

_VoV

I don't believe that animals exist for the benefit of humankind. They are not ours to exploit.

Also, I believe that vegans are vegan and that is that. There's a part of the vegan community that seems to enjoy pointing out that they are "veganer" than others - this is silly and counterproductive. Any time a person chooses veganism, dietary or ethical, they are taking a step toward a more compassionate lifestyle. None of us is perfect (though it's fine to strive for perfection!) so each of us can only do our best in our given situations.

This is so true. I think the 'veggier-than-thou' dynamic is ridiculous and divisive. I respect all efforts to reduce animal suffering. Meatless Mondays, replacing some of the meat on your plate with veggies...it's all good. I agree with the previous posters who have said that your initial motivation to go vegan can be one thing, but as your awareness of the lifestyle grows, you may find more reasons you think it's a great idea.

veganbaum

@Dan - seriously, every time you post it is either this or about how you don't believe in calories in/calories out. I think you must have your explanations all typed up and just copy and paste them anytime you see a thread where they might fit. I will point out, again, that the book you love to tell people to read has had holes poked in it because of the way she twisted some of the sources she cites.

And, for those who have come on here against veganism - let me point out that the OP asked others about their reasons for going veg*n and wanted to know more about definitions. Nowhere did she say she is thinking about becoming veg*n. So there's no need to espouse such negative attitudes in a thread that is not about debating the merits of a veg*n diet.