Why do people become vegan?

Should I be vegan? Probably quite a few people have already asked themselves this question. In some rare cases, there is also a person who answers in the affirmative and changes their eating habits. However, the vast majority of people do not even ask themselves such a question, or they find some sufficient explanation for themselves why an animal diet is justified; or why a plant-based diet is too extreme. With this article, I want to make the reader ask themselves this same question, whether for some it is the first time or for some it is the first time.

To begin with, I must point out an important distinction that is often misunderstood. Vegetarianism in Estonian means avoiding only meat and sometimes fish. On the other hand, veganism or veganism is a way of eating that avoids all products of animal origin in your menu. This means that you avoid meat and fish, but also eggs and dairy products. In this article, I will primarily talk about the latter, or veganism.

On the possibility of a vegan diet

I think that to answer the question ”should I be vegan?”, one should first understand why a person eats and how they are able to eat. Because obviously none of us would think that people should be vegan if such a diet did not satisfy the goal or need for which a person eats. The reason for eating is, of course, the need for self-preservation. So the question remains, can a vegan diet satisfy this need? There are known lifelong vegans in the world who live healthy and fulfilling lives. There are also many people who have decided to become vegan at some point and have lived healthy and happy lives since then. So yes, it is possible to be vegan and it is possible to become vegan. A plant-based diet certainly does not mean that a person has to be hungry, malnourished, unhappy or powerless. This is confirmed by successful athletes in the world who eat completely plant-based foods, for example, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton. Our own Estonian ultra-athlete Rait Ratasepp also covers his diet entirely with plant-based foods and achieves incredible and extreme results. Well-prepared vegan food doesn't have to be inferior in taste. Nowadays, there is a huge amount of information on how to replace animal products in your food menu and recipes with plant-based ones without losing the texture, taste and uniqueness of the food or creating completely new taste experiences.¹

According to some estimates, there are approximately 80 million vegans in the world, or 11% of the world's population. However, this number has recently been on a strong growth trend, and it is expected that there will be even more vegans in the world in the near future. There are also no known specific ailments or health problems among this group of people that would directly result from a plant-based diet and would be unavoidable. It is possible to get all the necessary nutrients and vitamins as a vegan. For example, the National Health Service in England says that with a carefully prepared menu, it is possible to get all the necessary nutrients as a vegan.² Of course, every beginner should carefully monitor their diet, consult a doctor and take vitamin supplements if necessary (this also applies to omnivores).

Ethics and care

Okay, but why should I be vegan anyway? Just because something is purely possible doesn’t mean it’s the wisest or best choice. There really is only one main reason to be vegan and not omnivorous – ethics. In short, being ethical means caring about the suffering and will of your fellow human beings. For example, an ethical person is not someone who lies, cheats or kills, because such behavior would not be caring about the suffering of others and would be against their will. However, the same ethical stance should be taken not only towards other people but also towards animals. This is because animals are also capable of suffering and have independent will. Science also confirms that all animal species have cognition, or awareness of themselves and the world around them.³ Moreover, most animals probably have a very deep inner life, similar to humans, and are therefore undoubtedly unique and individuals. Just think of dogs or cats, they often have different personalities, habits, preferences, etc. Of course, such qualities are not limited to those animals that humans have decided to domesticate as pets.

But what prevents an omnivore from being ethical? The way an animal product ends up on your plate always means that the animal has suffered or been subjected to something against its will along the way. This usually means that the animal is imprisoned, fattened, and exploited for various products until its ”resources” are exhausted or until it is sufficiently mature. Then most animals are killed, butchered, packaged, and taken to the grocery store. Now, if we assume that we are doing all this with creatures, each of whom is in reality a unique individual who does not want to be imprisoned, suffer, or become a mere resource for people who do not otherwise care about them, then at least I have a hard time calling such behavior ethical in the slightest.

But hasn't man been an omnivore and hunter since the beginning of time? Yes, but we no longer live at the beginning of time. Man no longer has to hunt for survival, like other predators in nature. Nowadays it is possible and easy to eat plant-based food. We cannot justify our eating habits by saying that we have always done so, because circumstances have changed. What may once have been essential for survival is now simply a modernized, industrial, systematic killing machine. Do what you can for these captive animals; give them better food, shelter, unlimited pasture, or whatever other good to improve their lives, but you cannot get around the fact that the life of this animal is being wasted for human consumption, and the same applies to hunted animals. It cannot be worthy or ethical for any species of animal to use or graze it as a resource for human consumption. Because just as we wouldn't want some intergalactic, technologically advanced alien species to come to Earth and find humans a nice snack to keep in cages, breed, and consume, or simply "hunt in the wild," no other sentient living being wants or deserves humans to do similar things to them.

Environmental impacts

In addition to considering animal welfare, a plant-based diet is also the best thing each of us can do to reduce our ecological footprint, thereby contributing to the recovery of both animal and plant species. For example, keeping farm animals is very resource-intensive in terms of both water and land, because animals consume much more nutrients during their lives compared to the nutritional value obtained from the animal itself. Producing plant-based food with the same or even better nutritional value requires significantly less water and land and saves a lot of natural resources. Now think hard for a moment. Where does a livestock animal get its nutrients? After all, mainly from the plants that we grow and feed it. And what happens to it? A large part of it is used as energy in the animal's body during its life to maintain bodily functions, generate heat, beat the heart, brain impulses, move muscles, etc. Often, we end up not consuming all parts of the animal's body, which again means a waste of resources. Who among you has ever eaten a cow's eyeball, brain, heart, bone marrow or intestines? It is therefore no wonder that scientific studies have found that if everyone ate only plants, the area needed for agriculture would be reduced by up to 75%.⁴ This would open up new opportunities for better use of this vast land, for example, preserving species diversity, natural flora and fauna. It would also be the best thing to do to prevent climate change and reduce anthropogenic pollution, because natural vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide. Of course, the number of emissions from intensive agriculture would also be reduced.

Health

Going vegan is arguably the best thing any person can do to make the greatest possible contribution to improving animal welfare and preserving our planet’s biodiversity and natural environment. And what’s even better, you’re not losing anything by doing so! Going vegan is often the best thing you can do for your own health. Vegans who eat a healthy, varied diet have a lower risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Since vegans typically consume more fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and less saturated fat and cholesterol, it also helps maintain a healthy weight, improve digestion and heal skin. Vegans have also been found to have lower blood pressure and better blood sugar.⁵

Summary

In summary, being vegan means caring about the consequences of our eating habits and lifestyle. If it is possible to live in a way that does not harm nature and animals and preserves our own vitality and health, then why shouldn't we do it? I think it is tragic that such an attitude to life is not yet self-evident and that it raises questions and eyebrows in the wider society, rather than understanding and support. But there are plenty of similar situations from earlier human history. For example, a few centuries ago, slavery was considered a completely self-evident phenomenon, and women only recently gained equal rights with men. A lot of effort is also needed to implement animal rights, and we cannot rely solely on others, because each of us has a role to play in determining what our future will be.