Why Become a Vegetarian or Vegan? Cruelty, Health, Environment, Energy, and Cost Explained

I’m a stone-cold vegan…

And I’ve been this way for the past 7 years.

But if you’re still eating meat….

No judgment…at all.

Genuinely.

But I’d like you to hear me out for a second, because some of what you’re about to read might mess with you a little.

Not in a bad way though…but it will make you think hard for a second.

And this isn’t one of those “eat your greens, or you’ll die” lectures.

Nobody’s got time for that.

And to be honest, the people who come and show some stats about this and that, even before you’ve had your morning coffee, is one of the main reasons most of us go a little slow on this.

But there’s a reason more people are quietly swapping their plates right now, and it’s not all kale smoothies and Instagram aesthetics.

It’s money. It’s the planet. It’s your heart literally trying to keep up with what you’re feeding it.

And yea, it’s the animals too, because some of that stuff… once you know, you can’t really unknow it.

So I’m not gonna force anything on you.

You’re an adult.

But if you’ve ever had even a passing thought about going veggie, or you just want to know what all the noise is actually about, this is worth five minutes of your time.

So let’s get into it.

Cruelty

First, I would like to start with cruelty because that is the most significant reason of all.

Let me tell you a real-life story that happened in Africa, where people sell pangolins (a type of animal that lives in the woods)

The way they kill them is brutal. First, they straighten the pangolin and cut it from the belly. Because it has a strong back, it curls into a ball shape when it is scared.

After they have been stabbed in the stomach, their organs are then taken out; their bodies are then put on fire, so the ‘armor’ on their back becomes crispy and falls off.

So the meat can be sold to customers.

What happened was that, there was a group of Chinese tourists went to Africa to try some pangolin meats in the local market.

At this market they have witnessed horrendous scene– there was this one pangolin it wouldn’t want to get straightened no matter how strong the forces are applied, it was placed on the fire, it comes to a point that the pangolin no longer had the strength to hold it in.

So it slowly opens.

There was a baby pangolin found inside her belly; she used her body to protect her baby from being exposed.

So the point of this story is that the next time you eat meat (e.g., chicken), think about how their mothers will feel.

Pigs, cows, and chickens are individuals with feelings – they experience love, happiness, loneliness, and fear, just as dogs, cats, and people do.

More than 25 billion animals are killed by the meat industry each year – in ways that would horrify any compassionate person.

The average American meat-eater is responsible for the abuse and death of about 90 animals per year.

If we demand less meat or no meat at all, fewer animals will have to be killed to meet the demand.

Modern high-pressure agriculture commonly keeps cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other animals in overcrowded stalls, cages, crates, or sheds where they are often unable to turn around or take even a single step for their entire lives.

Deprived of veterinary care, exercise, sunlight, and even the feel of grass beneath their feet, these living, breathing, thinking, feeling beings, whose senses are so much like our own, suffer and die at the rate of millions per day just so that we can have burgers, patties, nuggets, and wieners.

Deciding what we will eat means choosing between the horrors of factory farming and respect for animals.

(Would you want yourself to be put in a cage with no interaction with the outside world?)

Many domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, are kept in people’s homes; they are well-fed and taken to the Vet every month for regular checkups.

People take care of them like human babies.

And you can go to jail for killing cats or dogs in the UK.

If you are a meat-eater and you have pets that you have feelings for, don’t you think it’s a little bit unfair for the cows, chickens, or pigs on your dinner table?

Hundreds of thousands of animals are poisoned, blinded, and killed every year to test shampoos, household cleaners, cosmetics, hair sprays, and other personal-care and household items.

These tests are not required by law, and they often produce inaccurate or misleading results – even if a product has blinded an animal, it can still be marketed to you.

Some corporations force substances into animals’ stomachs and drip chemicals into rabbits’ eyes.

What goes on behind the doors of laboratories is horrific.

Animals are also unnecessarily being trapped, caged, hurt, and even killed to make clothing, accessories, and furniture for human use.

Animal Abuse (eye opener)

Health

Meat is higher in saturated fat and cholesterol, which are linked to many heart diseases.

Moreover, it is proven that meat is deficient in vitamins, except for the B-complex; in carbohydrates, which are essential for good health; and in fiber, which absorbs overloaded fat.

Also, meat contains high concentrations of agricultural chemicals like herbicides and pesticides, and it is a host to many pathogenic microorganisms; hence, when we eat meat, we actually ingest these bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Environmental

There are many environmental reasons to become a vegetarian to help save the Earth.

For instance, one of the main causes of the greenhouse effect is the carbon dioxide released from fossil fuels, and more fossil fuel is used to produce meat than to produce plant-based meals.

Then, it takes too much water to produce animal protein as it does to produce plant proteins, so being a vegetarian means that you will save water.

Furthermore, the topsoil is made more productive when legumes and grains are planted properly, and vegetarians are helping save forests, because many forests are destroyed every day to create more land for livestock.

This destruction is inappropriate and should be banned, because forests are the natural filters for the air supply.

Saves Energy and Precious Resources

Eating a vegan diet reduces waste and devastation of Earth’s precious resources.

Consider the enormous energy put into growing grains to feed cattle.

Aside from the gutted rainforests, up to 5000 gallons of water is required to raise one pound of beef!

According to the US Department of Agriculture statistics, one acre of land can grow 20,000 pounds of potatoes.

That same acre of land, when used to grow cattle feed, can produce less than 165 pounds of edible cow flesh.

Money

As the last reason, we want to mention here for becoming a vegetarian is finances.

Vegetarian meals are always fresh and cost less, so you would be eating healthier while spending less, which is a huge plus in today’s society.

To conclude, our body is our temple, so to live longer, we should protect it.

The best way to protect ourselves is to eat healthier.

A healthy diet holds the key to being fit.

There are many healthy diets, but maybe the best one is a vegetarian diet.

Being a vegetarian has only pros, but never cons.

We must say once again that meat is high in fat, is deficient in many things, and harbors micro-organisms, which are harmful to our bodies.

What is interesting is that plants, especially beans, can easily replace meat.

Furthermore, vegetarian meals are cheaper and healthier.

Not only is it good for us to be vegetarians, but it is also good for the whole environment.