Reasons to Become Vegan

This article was originally published on Suite101.com. To see the article in its entirety, click on this link: Reasons to Become Vegetarian. If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re already vegan or on your way, so you might decide to skip this post!

The United States (as well as other Western countries) tends to have a diverse population, but it is apparent (based on the existence of the Food Pyramid) that a majority of citizens eat a varied diet that includes both animal and vegetable products. When a person chooses a meatless lifestyle, very often that person has a clear reason for becoming vegetarian. A person might choose to be vegetarian due to health reasons, environmental concerns, or for ethical beliefs.

People Become Vegetarians for Health Reasons

Perhaps one of the most common reasons people choose a vegetarian lifestyle is for health reasons. Consider this fact: "The total direct medical costs in the United States attributable to meat consumption were estimated to be $30-60 billion a year," according to Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diets. The website also states that another benefit of a meatless way of eating is that consuming plants offers protection from cancer.

Due to the increased fiber found in most vegetarian diets, other benefits include fewer gastrointestinal problems or discomfort. The above website also states that vegetarians have fewer problems with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, food-borne illness (such as E. coli and salmonella), and strokes. Considering that-according to the Centers for Disease Control-heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the top three causes of death in America (diabetes is number six on the list), many people have good reasons for avoiding the consumption of meat.


People Become Vegetarians for Environmental Reasons

Many people worry about the impact a meat-based diet has on the environment. Considering recent concerns about climate change and global warming, it's no wonder many people look to their eating habits and decide to change.

GoVeg.com boldly states, "The most serious environmental problems of our time are all directly linked to eating meat." The website outlines the grave environmental impact a meat-based diet causes. Some vegetarians who aren't necessarily concerned about their health worry about their carbon footprint and choose a meatless diet for that reason alone.

People Become Vegetarians for Ethical Reasons

Some vegetarians--many of them vegans--choose not to eat meat for ethical reasons. These people often object to eating meat because it means that an animal had to die to feed them, and sustaining their own life by killing an animal is not a good enough reason to eat meat. Many vegans also feel that eating dairy products (including eggs) or other animal products (like honey) exploits animals and, thus, choose not to eat any animal-based foods.

Becoming a Vegetarian is a Personal Choice

Some vegetarians have chosen this lifestyle not for one but multiple reasons. Whatever the case, there is no end to the amount of information available to anyone who decides to change her eating habits.

(Original article publication date:  September 10, 2009.)