For the critters
While it's not the sole reason for being vegan, for many people it's the deciding factor in whether or not they'll stay that way. Many people think that animals have a right to life and freedom, and this may be a factor in why people establish emotional bonds to them. Avoiding animal products is an easy way to show your support for the fight against animal cruelty and exploitation across the world, regardless of the specifics. Read a comprehensive explanation of why veganism is a sincere expression of compassion for animals.
For your own good
All the nutrients our bodies need may be found in well-planned vegan meals. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the British Dietetic Association both agree that they are appropriate for people of all ages and stages of life. In certain studies, vegan diets are related to reduced blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as decreased incidences of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer.
In addition to improving your diet, becoming vegan may teach you a lot about nutrition and cuisine. It's easier to fit in health-promoting alternatives like whole grains, fruit, nuts, seeds, and veggies into your diet when you're getting your nutrition from plants instead of animal sources.
As a matter of environmental concern
Whether it's recycling our trash or riding our bikes to and from work, we're all aware of ways in which we may live more sustainably. Avoiding animal products is one of the best ways to reduce one's carbon impact. This goes much beyond the issue of cow poop!
Meat and dairy are terrible for the environment because of their environmental impact.
It takes a lot of resources to produce meat and other animal products, including crops and water, as well as the transportation and other steps necessary to get them from the farm to the table. Deforestation, habitat loss, and species extinction are all linked to the massive quantity of grain feed needed for meat production. Only in Brazil do soya beans for Europe's livestock use the equivalent of 5.6 million acres of land. Poverty-stricken communities are forced to produce cash crops for animal feed rather than food, and this land contributes to hunger in developing countries. Veganism, on the other hand, needs much less crops and water resources, making it one of the simplest, most fun, and most successful strategies to lessen our environmental footprint. See our environmental section for additional information on how veganism may help the environment.
Individuals
In the same way that veganism is a more environmentally friendly choice, a plant-based diet is a better alternative for nourishing the human family. Compared to a meat and dairy diet, a plant-based diet needs just one third of the land. As food and water insecurity around the globe continues to rise owing to a wide range of environmental and socioeconomic factors, now is the best moment to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. If you want to decrease the burden on resources and food, avoiding animal products is one of the easiest ways to take a statement against inefficient food systems that harm the world's poorest people. Learn more about the benefits of veganism.
Why being a vegetarian isn't enough
The hardship of factory farmed animals receives more attention than the pain caused by the dairy and egg industries. Calves that aren't useful to dairy farmers have to be killed, as well as cows that are slaughtered when their milk supply begins to decline, in order to produce dairy products. In the egg business, even "ethical" or "free range" eggs need the slaughter of the "unnecessary" male chicks when they are only one day old.
Is there such a thing as 'ethical meat'?
To think that the meat we consume is ethical, that our "food animals" have had long, happy lives and that they have suffered no pain or fear at the butcher is seductive. It's a terrible fact, but even animals labeled "free range" or "organic" are afraid of dying. Regardless of how they are treated while they are alive, all animals are afraid of being slaughtered.