The Ethics Of A Vegan Diet

It has long been believed that animal products are an important element in a healthy diet, but recent discussions have become more common on whether they positively or negatively affect an individual's health. Many have argued that animal products are essential to a healthy life, and make them the staple of their diet. But being Vegan vastly increases your health, decreases your negative impact on the planet, and saves countless innocent animals from a meaningless death.

“There is no fundamental difference between man and animals in their ability to feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery.” -Charles Darwin. Veganism is a way of leaving which seeks to exclude all forms of exploration and cruelty to animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. In terms of diet, it omits any intake of animal produce, including meat, eggs and dairy. There are many benefits that come from a vegan lifestyle, some people want healthier skin or to loose weight. Others see the truth behind animal farms and slaughterhouses, the inhumane way they end the lives of thousands of animals.

Over fifty-six billion animals are slaughtered yearly for consumption, but because we are conditioned from a young age to view animals as resources, we neglect that they are passionate and intelligent living beings. Cows want to enjoy their lives, pigs want to enjoy their lives, and many other farm animals want to enjoy their lives but instead are abused and confined in small cages. Ironically, though, when someone does likewise to a cat or dog, they’re prosecuted. The sole solution to these inhumane acts is Veganism. Veganism is the ideal diet because plant-based foods are plentiful, and it recognizes the unethical treatment of animals.

According to vegansociety.com, “ Veganism represents a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, other animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, other animals and the environment.“ People that follow this way of living are called vegans. The vegan diet is more a lifestyle choice and a philosophy than just a diet. The vegan life is the best way to live because it’s healthier, helps the environment, and is kinder to animals.

More than 150 billion animals are slaughtered each year. “Every year in America, without mercy, we murder 10 billion land animals, and 18 billion marine animals. Not for health, survival, sustenance or self-defense. People eat meat, cheese, milk and eggs for 4 reasons: habit, tradition, convenience, and taste.” (Yourofsky). Making people go vegan for a month or years, can significantly drop the high amount of animal cruelty that happen each day. This can cause an growth in the animal population. It can help animals live a happy life instead of being trap in a slaughterhouse waiting for their

Vegetarians are people who do not eat meat, and for some, do not consume any animal products at all. Vegetarian has been along for a long time and with time has grown the controversy over the topic. The reasons that vegetarianism has grown into a controversial topic are mostly the human beliefs and health reasons associated with it.

Like the majority of teenagers today, I was just browsing YouTube when I stumbled upon a video that has since changed my life. “Earthlings.” The documentary revealed how millions of animals are mercilessly slaughtered in factory farms. Just watching such brutality- void of any type of humanity- was immobilizing. Somehow I made it to the end and came across copious recommended videos, including “Forks Over Knives” and “Cowspiracy.” While they weren’t as graphic as the first, they were definitely informative. After watching these documentaries, I decided to go vegan. This decision wasn’t made lightly, and it wasn’t just for myself. Veganism has long been disputed over, but animal rights activists, environmentalists,

Veganism is a plant-based diet aimed to replace meat, oils, fats and dairies in the normal omnivorous diet. Vegans, someone who participates in veganism, often turn to veganism due to their own ideas about animal cruelty, environmental conservation and their own health. The majority of these people chose to be a vegan for health benefits, but that is not the only reason. The idea of veganism is helpful for saving suffering animals, keeping the environment cleaner, has many health benefits for humans, and is less expensive than the traditional omnivorous diet.

After having my heart shattered into pieces and taken out of my body. I finally decided it was time for me to get up. I couldn’t let this break up get the best of me. So in order to get my mind off the heartache, I decided that I needed to take this break up as a new beginning in which I would focus on myself and my goals. One of my goals was always to be able to get toned and build some muscle mass. In order to achieve this, I needed to learn how to meal prep since I have such a busy schedule from school and work. I went into Pinterest and saw a meal prep that I like, but it was vegetarian. I thought this was good because it was a challenge and it would help me keep my mind off the breakup. Worried just like many other people have about not eating meat, I started to do my research to make sure that I was eating properly and making sure I had enough protein. While browsing for more vegetarian recipes I came into a couple of videos about veganism. I found it interesting and I started to look up more videos and everything clicked on me. I cannot call myself an animal lover and eat meat or support any abuse towards animals. That’s when I decided to go vegan. My decision to go vegan, what people think about veganism and what being a vegan stands for me.

Veganism has been a popular topic in the media in the past few years. Veganism is abstaining from consuming or using products made from animals or products that harm and exploit animals. A common argument for veganism is common human ethics. These ethics say that it is wrong to harm a being that cannot protect itself. This creates a problem because of the violence it causes all over the world from protestors starting fights or bystanders starting conflicts with the protestors. I believe that the vegans are right when it comes to the ethics that change their lifestyle. Treating animals and testing products on them, which are not meant for them, is wrong. Especially because the animals cannot defend themselves.

Veganism is a way of life that alters diet, clothing, and other decisions with the goal of ending exploitation of animals. Veganism is not for everyone although you never truly know about something until you try it. Different diets are for different people. Not everyone can live off of plants. Veganism is a good idea or choice because it is a healthy way of life, good for the environment, and for the animals.

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. This includes not consuming meat, dairy, honey, eggs, gelatin, etc., as well as not using leather, feathers, wool, or products that have been tested on animals.

This essay analyzes the ethical argument for veganism through the lens of philosophy using Utilitarianism defined by John Stuart Mill, and Deontological ethics according to Immanuel Kant. Through the use of these theories, I will justify the moral worth and legitimacy of the animal welfare debate that is often used to promote a cruelty-free and vegan lifestyle by analyzing questions of animal sentience, the worth of an animal’s happiness, and the right humanity supposedly has to the lives of other living creatures. Utilitarianism and Deontological ethics will provide two philosophical insights into the reasoning of a life abstaining from harming animals.

The first thing that usually comes to one’s mind when they hear the word Veganism is healthy. However, many points would debate against and for this very statement. There are many researches that prove the vegan diet is a healthy one and that this diet is better than a normal animal product eating one, however none proving that it is better than all the other diets, like some people claim the plant-eating one to be. Being a vegan means that you miss essential nutrients on a day to day basis such as vitamins, iron, zinc and calcium just to name a few. As well as this, when you get rid of all these animal products you are at a much higher risk of developing a nutritional deficiency and becoming under-weight. Looking

Some would not be able to live without eating any animal products in their diets, such as, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and honey. For vegans, however, this is a normal way of life. Vegans are frequently misunderstood as either people who have eating disorders, or an unnatural passion for animal rights. It is time for people to realize that veganism, a challenging yet rewarding lifestyle, goes way beyond being skinny or caring for animals. In reality, veganism can be extremely advantageous to anyone who adapts it as a way of life and has many different benefits that come along with it.