Why the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle?

Hello everyone!

I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, but I'm interested in the lifestyle and the reasons behind it.  I've never known anyone to chose the veg*an life, so I'm curious.  Why, personally, are you vegetarian? What advantages are there to being vegetarian?  Thanks in advance!

A few reasons. Mostly it's an ethical choice for me. I used to work in a setting in which animals were "ethically" treated, and I was apalled even at that. It got me thinking about the animals that aren't so lucky, the ones that are factory and battery farmed. I myself do not a have problem with eating meat, but it's the current farming practices I object to.

I live in Australia, which is drought affected country and most of the country is dessert. We have issues with overgrazing and consequently severe erosion purely due to farming and I didn't want to contribute to that. There are more sustainable grazing methods than what are currently used and I didn't want my $$ to support to current methods.

Then there's the health benefits. A well balanced vegetarian diet is low in saturated fats, which are known contribute to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Most of our dietary sources of saturated fats are from animal meat. It's higher in dietary fibre, which is known to lower cholesterol and prevent bowel cancer. It's also lower in calories, so I find it easier to manage my weight. I will emphasise *well balanced* diets, as I'm sure you could be vego and eat nothing but cheese and potato chips hehehe.

I don't eat red meat other than beef or lamb...okay so that basically means I don't eat pork or horse or camel or rabbit or dog, etc.

I've unintentionally gone vegetarian the past few days because I've gotten too lazy and busy to cook...infact I'm technically vegetarian on most week days...lol...I still drink milk and eat eggs daily though. I actually love the taste of tofu, tempeh and soy milk. And tofu is so easy cook...infact I buy the firm, solid kinds and just pop them in the microwave...voila, instant protein!

As much as I'd like to say I made this great sacrifice in my life to help animals, it's just not true. :P I'm not that honorable. I don't like the taste of chicken, beef, pork, fish, etc, etc, so it works out!

I became a vegetarian originally for a bet...

But I kept it up because since I gave up meat my whole diet became healthier after I started paying more attention to what was in the food I was eating. My immune system is better than ever, and in general I have this amazing feeling of wellbeing :)

Original Post by laire23:

You might have trouble getting people to answer this question because vegetarians get asked this question -all- the time, usually by people who are somewhat defensive and even belligerent about eating meat. (Not that I'm saying you are that way!) After a while, you get really sick of answering the question and resent it a bit even when it's asked by someone who is just curious.

For me, I started being vegetarian because I was young and idealistic, and I highly disapprove of the inhumane ways that many animals are farmed. After 16 years of not eating meat, it's now mostly because I have zero desire to do so. If Americans would cut back on meat consumption and increase vegetable consumption, it would be a much healthier country!

 I love what you said about how you started...because you were young and idealistic. That kind of happened to me as well. I was passionate about it until I got so ill that my doctor phoned to talk to my mom about the level of my iron. I looked like a freaking ghost! I didn't understand how to be vegetarian. Since then I have been an advent researcher when it come to nutrition.

I was a vegetarian for two and a half years starting when I was 16. I have recently gone back because even when I eat meat I feel so damn guilty knowing that I am filling my body with the meat of something that was once living and breathing. I am also lactose intolerant so there goes dairy consumption.

But yeah basically I did it for the animals sake...the health benefits (which I didn't know even existed until I started) are merely just a bonus.

Original Post by lbh:

Hello everyone!

I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, but I'm interested in the lifestyle and the reasons behind it.  I've never known anyone to chose the veg*an life, so I'm curious.  Why, personally, are you vegetarian? What advantages are there to being vegetarian?  Thanks in advance!

I went vegetarian 28 years ago now, after reading the philosopher Peter Singers classic book Animal Liberation, which is the only book that has ever made me cry - after finding out how we treat factory farmed animals, I felt ashamed to be a member of the human race.

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Liberation-Peter -Singer/dp/0060011572

But you should be able to get it from your local library, as well.

Advantages -

more variety in food (as long as you don't rely on ready meals) -  but you have to think outside the box, and cook lots of interesting food from around the world.

Healthier (again as long as you don't rely on ready meals and dairy products) - lots of fruit, veg, lentils, pulses.

Knowing that you are saving a lot of animal suffering and unneccessary death.

Saving money - meat is more expensive than lentils and beans

Disadvantages -

less choice when eating out, (unless you go to an Indian restaurant that is).

1) I love my pets and animals in general, so I don't feel comfortable using animals as a source of food when I don't have to

2) As others have stated, the way that some farm animals are treated is horrific

3) I've always been a bit squeamish about meat - hated the gristly bits and the texture and appearance of raw meat, and never liked eating chicken or turkey

4) I love veggie food!

I'm sure there are probably health benefits to being vegetarian, but it's never been my motivation - as far as I'm concerned a veggie diet can still include plenty of sweets, junk food and alcohol, so it's certainly not a guarantee of weight loss or good health in itself.