why vegan?

When people ask me why I became vegan, I find myself trying to prioritize all of the reasons why I chose this lifestyle within a split second. When I answer, I want to be intriguing, not intimidating. I don't want to risk turning them away from the idea forever. In a situation like that, you have a very brief period of time to convey a very complex message. It is difficult to say the least. I can't possibly tell them about animal welfare, sustainability, western diseases all at once, can I? Well, I usually try. Sometimes I succeed, other times they just roll their eyes and justify their actions with one of the arguments all too familiar to us vegans like: 'Where do you get your protein?' 'You will become deficient in this and that vitamin or mineral shortly.' 'Animals are here for us to eat'. 'I could never give up bacon and cheese, though'. I promise you, there is a legitimate reply to all of these comments. I hope that you, dear reader, are open to them. I am not here to force my beliefs on anyone, I believe in leading by example. I am here to provide you with some material on the topic, so you can make an educated decision yourself. Here's what I would tell everyone asking me why: 

FOR THE ANIMALS. Society has become so materialistic, all they see is products, products, products. People buy everything that's made available. They never stop to think that these items were once living creatures and the meat, dairy, eggs, leather, honey, fur, etc they buy is not just a product. I was like that once, until I watched a documentary called Earthlings. It uncovers the horrors of animal agriculture intentionally hidden from the public eye. It is available online for free at http://earthlings.com/. If I had the authority, I would make it a compulsory piece for all high schoolers. Do you like dogs? Or are you more of a cat person? Have you ever asked yourself why and where you draw the line between pets and other animals? What is the difference between a puppy and a newborn calf or a piglet? Why does one deserve to live and the other to be slaughtered? I will not answer these questions for you. I trust that they will invoke compassion in you and make you reconsider your view.  For more educational articles on animal welfare check out the following pages: http://www.mercyforanimals.org/, http://www.peta.org/. Will you make the connection?

FOR MY HEALTH. While you may not embrace the ethical side of veganism too easily, you can start by taking a good look at yourself. That's what I did first. Most people consider themselves pretty healthy unless they have something very serious going on. Allergies, aches and pains, digestive issues, skin problems, fatigue are some of the things 90% of the population experience on a regular basis - they are considered normal. Obesity rates are higher than ever, yet the general public can't seem to figure out why, because they are being brainwashed by mainstream media. What if I said you can eliminate most of these and prevent graver conditions by reconsidering the lifestyle choices you make? Yes, the food that we put in our bodies is closely related to modern day illnesses that spread like wildfire. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, and other degenerative diseases all have root causes. I strongly believe that whenever someone is faced with a serious health issue, the most important thing to take a close look at is their diet. We were not meant to eat corpses. Can we survive on them? It seems so. For how long, though? The secret to longevity is a whole-food based vegan diet. If you don't believe me, read The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, or watch the documentary Forks over Knives. 'Let food be thy medicine'.

FOR THE PLANET. You probably already know that our planet's population is now out of control, while many people live in poverty and hunger, only because we choose to feed livestock instead of starving children. Living in a first world country makes us forget how privileged we are. The way most people live is not sustainable in the long run. We are destroying our beautiful planet at an unimaginable speed, so making huge changes is inevitable. Future generations  - including your children and grandchildren - are at risk of not being able to witness the wonders of this planet: the plant and animal species we know today, the ocean as it used to be, lakes soon to be dried up, or even a real snowfall. Instead they will be faced with the fury of Mother Earth, who will be taking revenge on us for what we've done. Your best bet to really make an impact is choosing to live without animal products. Intentionally abandoning these  will send a message to big corporations to produce less. In that way - little by little - you are able to influence the market. It is kind of like taking a vote. If you'd like to know more about the effects of animal agriculture on the environment, check out this page: http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts OR watch the entire Cowspiracy documentary.  Do you want to save the world?

These are the main pillars of veganism in my mind. I like to visualize a three-legged stool when speaking about it: very stable, with three firm legs to support it. I hope that I managed to give you valuable information. I honestly believe that everyone would benefit from this lifestyle. However much you change because of this article here, I am happy with that.  In case I was not able to convince you, make sure you also check out the resources page on this blog.