Why Vegan?

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why i became vegan

Why I Became Vegan

People often ask me why I became vegan, so here's why.

Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive “reasons to be vegan list”. I could easily write an article with 10 reasons to go vegan, or even a whole book with 100 reasons to go vegan. And maybe I will one day.

But for now, this is just my own story about why I became vegan.

My interest in veganism began with concern for my own health and for the environment.

Going Vegan for Health

why I became vegan - vegan for health

In November 2013, as I watched my father on his deathbed, lying in excruciating pain from a long list of complications caused by Type 1 diabetes, I was struck by the truth of my own mortality and knew that I never wanted to end up in such a miserable condition.

A few months later, as I began to learn more about plant-based diets, I found out about studies showing that the casein in cow's milk can trigger the onset of Type 1 diabetes in people who, like me, are genetically predisposed to the disease.

Once I knew this, it made it difficult to enjoy eating dairy products, wondering with each bite if I was writing my own death sentence. As I continued to research the subject, I found out about more and more health benefits to plant-based eating.

Environmental Benefits of Veganism

why I became vegan - vegan for the environment

Environmental sustainability has always been of great concern to me, and that concern grows each day as the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continues to rise ever higher, and as I watch all the destruction we humans are wreaking on this planet.

I knew that the ecological footprint of a plant-based diet was much smaller than that of a meat-based one, and this had been the catalyst for my previous forays into vegetarianism, beginning when I was in college.

Vegan for the Animals

why I became vegan - vegan for the animals - pig
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Initially, for me, compassion for animals came a distant third behind health and environmental reasons for going vegan. I had plenty of compassion for other humans. In fact, I had recently earned a master's degree in human rights and was hoping to begin a new career in that field.

I desperately wanted to make the world a better place, which to me meant working for environmental and social justice. I'm very sorry to say that I viewed people who dedicated their efforts to animal welfare as well-meaning but a bit misguided.

I just didn't see why someone would want to, for example, volunteer at an animal shelter, when there were so many more "important" or "worthy" causes, like feeding all the starving people in the world.

It saddens and astounds me that I ever felt that way, because I now see the world very differently. While it was health and the environment that led me towards veganism, it was compassion not just for other humans but for all living beings that pushed me to become fully vegan, and it is that same compassion that I'm confident will keep me vegan for life.

Humans are just one of the myriad species of animals that inhabit this planet, and it is undeniable that other animals feel suffering and pain just like we do. I would never willfully cause a human to suffer, much less murder a human, so why should I pay someone to torture and murder other animals just so I can eat them?

why I became vegan - be kind to animals
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Our society has created a vast disconnect between what we espouse as our most deeply-held values and what we put on our plate. If asked, virtually everyone would say that they believe in the values of compassion and non-violence. And yet, they violate those values every time they choose to eat animal flesh and other animal products.

We humans have no nutritional need for animal products; we can get all the nutrients we need from plants. In fact, our consumption of animals and their secretions is a major contributor to the many "diseases of civilization" plaguing our society, such as diabetes, heart disease and many types of cancer.

For those of us who live in developed societies with a broad range of food choices available to us, it just doesn't make sense for us to continue to eat animals.

Now that my true inner compassion has been awakened and I have made the connection between violence and the consumption of meat, dairy and eggs, I'm finally starting to realize the extent to which all living things in this world really are connected, and I feel much closer to nature and to all the animals that I encounter.

why I became vegan - connection to animals

I feel lighter and at peace with myself, as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I also feel empowered in the knowledge that my daily choices make a real positive difference and are helping to make the world a better place.

In the past, I often felt discouraged and frustrated because I simply didn't know what I should do to bring about the changes I wanted to see in the world, and it seemed that even the experts didn't know how to fix all the problems we are facing.

For every Jeffrey Sachs who said that we could end poverty by giving more aid to poor countries, there was a Bill Easterly who said that our aid money was just creating dependency and corruption and was doing more harm than good.

Even my belief in the value of education, which I'd always thought was indisputable, was turned on its head when I saw the film Schooling the World.

why I became vegan - is building more schools really the answer?

But now, by extending my circle of compassion to include non-human as well as human animals, I can rejoice in the knowledge that I am saving lives every single day and that my choices are helping to create a better world for all beings on this planet.

And, by manifesting my values of peace and compassion, I am helping to spread those values and hopefully inspire others to awaken to the compassion that is also inside them, which will create a more peaceful world for all of us. Veganism truly is the world peace diet.

As an added bonus, I have discovered the joy of eating and, for the first time in my life, cooking! For 38 years I hated to cook, and now I actually enjoy it. Far from being restrictive, veganism has introduced me to so many wonderful foods I had never tasted or even heard of before.

What once seemed to me like some wacky, extremist, hippie fad has brought about so many positive changes in my life. Finally, I have found my true purpose and am living the joyful life I was always meant to live.

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9 Comments

  1. Very interesting to read about your transition. We completely agree about the disconnect you speak of.
    And we are so sorry to hear about your Dad. 🙁

    • Hi Ligeia and Mindy,
      Thanks for connecting here and for your kind words. I do regret that I didn’t discover veganism in time to share that discovery with my Dad, as I have no doubt that it could have added years onto his life. But we are all on our own journey, and some of us make it here sooner than others. I’m thankful that my eyes have finally been opened to the truth and that I have the opportunity to help others along the same path.

  2. Wondering how you have (earn) the money to travel when you’re always traveling. Safe travels! Amy (vegetarian since 1976 and vegan since 1999).

    • Hi Amy! Good question. I’ve done a variety of things over the years. For awhile my not-yet-husband and I were working as tour guides in Italy during the summer tourist season and then saving up to travel in the winter. We did that for a few years in a row, and then we started working at major sporting events around the world (his background is in sports journalism). So again we would have contracts for a few months at a time and then travel in between contracts. We also kept to a VERY tight budget. Most people don’t realize just how cheap it can be to travel in some parts of the world. To give you an idea, on our 2004 trip to India we spent about $7 per person per day. That includes accommodation, meals, transport, entry tickets, everything.

  3. I really enjoyed this article. Specifically, I like that you mentioned the fact that you could have easily listed 10 reason why you became vegan, but the approach you took was necessary and left a lot of impact. Relating it to your personal life experiences and beliefs has allowed me to further understand vegan diets. I also appreciate the fact that you mentioned the well being of animals. I find that not many people are aware of the horrors that take place in slaughter houses, let alone where the animals are raised. Your insight has motivated me to become more cautious with the foods that I will allow myself to eat because I did not realize that animal meat could be detrimental to human health. On the contrary, I am someone who keeps Kosher which makes me feel a little bit better about eating animals because of the process in which they are killed. Still, I believe that no animal should be killed for the satisfaction of humans when there are so many other sustainable options for us.

    • Hi Ashely,
      Thank you for caring about the animals, and for sharing your thoughts here. I’m so glad to hear that the article has resonated with you in some way. And I agree completely; no animal should be killed just to satisfy our taste buds!

  4. I love reading stories of the transition to veganism, it can be very exciting and touching. Thank you for sharing your story

  5. Ayodeji Abdulfatai Oyinloye

    I quite love your passion and the reasons behind it.

    I particularly appreciate the education on the damage casein protein (containing 8 amino acids) can cause as it pertains to Type 1 diabetes in genetically predisposed people.

    Incidentally, I accidentally came across your blog in search of material on a school assignment term paper on vegan diet.

    • Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, the connection between casein and Type 1 diabetes is not something I hear talked about very often, but it was a main factor in my decision to give up dairy. Best of luck with your school assignment!

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