Vegetarians and Vegans: Why are you what you are?

Question

Did you choose because of religious, moral, environmental, nutritional, or (other) issues?

Answer 1

Vegan

Moral reasons first

Then health reasons

Environmental reasons

It's just a bonus that it pisses off my in-laws :)

Answer 2

I started  for  ethical reasons..I continue for all reasons you state except religion.

Answer 3

People always ask me why i do it, and it's actually hard for me to answer.

I did it when i was in the 7th grade, not because of animals (even though im a huge animal lover), not religion or anything like that.

If i remember right, i did it because i read in an article that Orlando Bloom was vegetarian (I had a huge crush on him).

Years later I found out i read the article wrong and he wasnt, he just excluded red meats.

However i liked it alot more than eating meat and stuck to it.

I sound like a moron.

Answer 4

I watched the video at meat.org for moral issues.  Now it's not an issue, it's a reality.  Watch the video, if you already haven't.>>>it's brutal.

Answer 5

All of the above.

* I believe a diet which includes animal products is an assault on nature and God's creation.

* I believe that it's wrong to kill/exploit/eat an animal that is sentient and desires freedom and life.

* It is well documented that animal foods/clothing is an unbelievable waste of the earth's resources and the waste products cause significant pollution.

* It is well documented that vegans enjoy health benefits linked to diet, and lower incidences of chronic illness than non-vegans.

I also do it out of personal responsibility.  As a citizen on this earth, I owe it to myself and everybody in this world to show compassion towards the world's weaker creatures.

Answer 6

Moral reasons, not being comfortable with the idea of killing animals. It's also a kind of religious thing because I'm influenced by the Hindu/Buddhist/Jain concept of Ahimsa (non-violence) and I'm married to a Hindu (I was vegetarian for several years before I met my wife, though).

Answer 7

moral... i can't stand to eat animals

Answer 8

Medical reasons.

Meat proteins upset the digestive system - and I get sick because of seizure med's that I must take.

Answer 9

i don't care for meat.

...so, it makes sense then that i shouldn't eat it right?

besides, i feel sorry for those poor animals...

don't you?

Answer 10

Well, I was born into a religion that was strictly vegetarian, but I'm just agnostic now so I can't really say I'm a vegetarian because of religion.  I think it is 1) Out of habit and 2)Kind of moral.  I would never want to kill an animal so that I could eat it when I have plenty of other options that don't cause pain to anyone.

I'm not against the consumption of meat, I am against the over-consumption of it.  I hate it when people eat almost nothing but meat.

Answer 11

vegan

The Golden Rule/ethic of reciprocity

Answer 12

FOR THE ANIMALS:

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Today the majority of farmed animals are:

-confined to the point that they can barely move,

-denied veterinary care,

-mutilated without painkillers,

-and finally slaughtered often while fully conscious.

FOR OUR EARTH:

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According to Dr. David Brubaker, PhD, at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for a Livable Future, “The way that we breed animals for food is a threat to the planet. It pollutes our environment while consuming huge amounts of water, grain, petroleum, pesticides and drugs. The results are disastrous.”

FOR MY HEALTH:

**********************

“Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein, as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.”

--American Dietetic Association, June 2003 position paper

5 days ago

Answer 13

I have several reasons:

1. anti-cruelty:: no living creature should suffer intentional pain

2. value of life:: no living creature should die to satisfy my appetite (this stipulation eliminates "humane" killing)

3. health:: cholestoral, fat content, etc.

4. environment:: the meat industry creates incredible pollution