Everyone wants to know, why vegan?

By Published On: 18 May 2010Last Updated: 17 January 2017

Everyone wants to know why you're vegan. Even me. Now here's why I am.

What's in this post

I’ve been thinking about veganism lately.  It’s because I go to a lot of vegan websites, I read a lot- some because I want to learn more about the physics of being vegan, and some just because I just want to be entertained.  I’ve recently noticed a trend, more and more bloggers are dedicating pages on their sites to respond to the question, “Why vegan?”

I read them all because I enjoy reading about what other folks have to say. I suppose it’s because I like to know that there are other folks out there who actually think like me. If you are a vegan, then I’m sure you know what I’m talking about when I say that I don’t personally know very many vegans. Oh, I know a few “live” vegan folks (that are totally rad, that are doing rad things- things like making sumptuous vegan lip balms and aroma-tastic soy-based candles), but I’d like to know a lot more. It’s so refreshing to be around folks of a like mind, you know?  So it’s interesting to see how other folks stepped onto the vegan path.

Being vegan is the single most important thing in my life. Now, hold on- don’t get me wrong. I love my family and my friends very much, they are an integral part of my life- and I don’t take that for granted at all. But my veganism embodies who I am at the core and provides me with ethics in which I believe in and adhere to.

There are a lot of reasons that folks list out for being vegan, a lot of them focuses on the health aspects or environmental aspects of veganism.  For myself, I believe that non-human animals have a basic right to life, period. I don’t analyze whether non-humans have the same abilities (IE: Can they reason?) as humans because, to me, it doesn’t matter. Their life agendas do not have to be given my seal of approval for them to matter.  Non-humans deserve an opportunity to live a free and natural life.  And quite honestly, nothing will ever make me change my mind on that.

I don’t care that being vegan can prevent heart disease.  The American Heart Association states that vegans have a “lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer. ”  Even the American Dietetic Association (ADA) tells us that a vegan diet is “healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatments of certain diseases.”  But the health benefits (including the radiant skin, super silky hair, the fastest growing nails this side of the Mississippi, and an awesome immune system) that I’ve gotten from being vegan doesn’t dictate whether or not I’m vegan.  I am not a vegan because I want to be healthy.  Rather, I am healthy thanks to my vegan diet.

I’m not vegan because I care about our planet either, even though our environment needs us now more than ever.  I am not trying to be “green,” the whole “green” movement makes me grit my teeth.  Why do we need a movement to live mindfully?

In the end, I just don’t care about the benefits I get from being vegan at all.  I only care that I’m not contributing to an animals death.  That, by living a mindful and compassionate life, I can save other lives.  I can’t look into eyes of another being and tell them that they don’t matter as much because they are a cow and I happen to be human.  For me, it’s about respecting all life- not just the humans.  It’s just as simple as that.

7 Comments

  1. Chereebers May 21, 2010 at 5:08 pm - Reply

    Thank you for articulating so well exactly why I choose to be vegan :)

  2. ydavis May 20, 2010 at 6:22 pm - Reply

    I started out researching food because I loved to cook. That in turn made me so aware of where our food came from that I went vegetarian. Then after more research I naturally progressed to Vegan. You can’t NOT be Vegan once you realize how our food is produced and the suffering that goes with it.

  3. joel_luks May 19, 2010 at 7:41 am - Reply

    Agreed. We all have entry points into the lifestyle. For me, it was just like you, I saw an animal get slaughter and after that, I could no longer be responsible for causing the death of one. Like Food, Inc. said, if slaughter houses had walls, there would be many more of us around.

    Thankfully the movement is growing, and I don’t really care about people’s entry point into veganism. Just that we are here.

  4. Topsy.com May 18, 2010 at 6:16 pm - Reply

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Your Daily Vegan, Your Daily Vegan, Your Daily Vegan, Lindsey Duté, Lindsey Duté and others. Lindsey Duté said: Everyone wants to know, why vegan? http://bit.ly/c6Eb7P via @AddToAny […]

  5. jeri@godsdreamsforme May 18, 2010 at 1:29 pm - Reply

    I love this. You are so awesome! Thank You for writing this KD. Living this lifestyle is such a privilege. It’s a freeing, mindful, beautiful, and emowering way to live. You just have to know, for yourself, why you live it. If it’s just a fad, it’s gonna fade.

    Living vegan is so unbelievably rewarding. I’m closer to God, my husband, and I’m kinder and more compassionate to others.

    I’ve met so many awesome people and made new friends. I’m so glad for “your” like mindedness.

    God Bless :D Love the picture.

  6. Hilary May 18, 2010 at 11:26 am - Reply

    I think it’s fascinating to learn how everyone finds their way to veganism. I come from the opposite end of the spectrum – I am all about the health benefits. The fact that my lifestyle is also compassionate to animals and kind to the planet is amazing and wonderful, and just another reason that I know in my heart of hearts that this vegan life is right for me. But it’s not my focus. I want to be as healthy, radiant and happy as I can possibly be.

    How we got here is not important. What is important is that we ARE here, living our lives according to our values and principles, and hopefully inspiring others to live life more mindfully along the way. And that is a truly beautiful thing.

    Great post. Very thoughtful. I feel like I know you just a little bit better now :)

    Cute pic, btw!

    With love,
    Hilary
    (www.plateandsimple.com)

  7. opensourcevegan May 18, 2010 at 11:14 am - Reply

    Mike Anderson said in his Eating dvd that we kill animals, and then they kill us. He used the coined term, “animal’s revenge,” to describe this ironic situation.

    I’m all for PETAH=People for the Ethical Treatment of All Humans.

    I want to save people from their own diabolical destruction of eating dead flesh.

    I’ve been a vegan for 6 years, and a lacto-ovo vegetarian before that for all my 25 years of life.

    –Franklin
    http://www.opensourcevegan.com

Leave A Comment

HELLO! I'm KD Angle-Traegner.

Writer, activist, and founder of Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. I’m on a mission to help people live a vegan life. Read more about KD…

SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST