I am often asked why I don't eat dairy or meat. There are many reasons people choose a vegetarian or vegan diet, and they are usually personal. Here are mine, in case one of them resonates with you, along with what the research says where it applies.
1. Working conditions in the meat industry
I first became vegetarian in college, and it was not because of animal welfare. It was because of what I read in Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation, which describes meatpacking plants that hired workers at low wages, put them in hazardous conditions and often left them without adequate protection when they were injured. After reading it, along with novels such as Ana Castillo's So Far From God, I decided I could not keep supporting an industry that treated the people in it that way.
2. Seeing it for myself
After college I drove through West Texas past the feedlots. Pens packed with cattle lined the highway, the animals standing on bare dirt with no grass in sight. I remember thinking I never wanted to eat that again, and I did not want to support that treatment of any animal.
3. What does the research say about meat and cancer?
My father was diagnosed with colon cancer, and his doctor told him his diet, high in red and processed meat, had likely played a part. The evidence supports that concern. In 2015 the World Health Organization's cancer agency, IARC, classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans and red meat as probably carcinogenic, based mainly on evidence for colorectal cancer; its experts estimated that each 50 g of processed meat eaten daily raises colorectal cancer risk by about 18 percent.
Going vegetarian is not a guarantee, but a large meta-analysis of observational studies found vegetarians had about an 8 percent lower incidence of cancer overall and vegans about 15 percent lower than people who eat meat. That made me think harder about my own choice.
4. Milk is made for calves
Cow's milk is made for baby cows, just as human milk is made for human babies, and it naturally carries the hormones and growth factors a calf needs. Goat's milk is no different. I simply prefer not to drink it, and plenty of calcium-rich plant foods and fortified plant milks fill the gap.
5. Is dairy hard to digest?
For me it is. Cheese leaves me bloated and gassy for the next day. I am far from alone: around two-thirds of the world's adults have reduced ability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk, according to a 2017 meta-analysis. If that sounds familiar, read our guide to lactose intolerance.
6. A feminist perspective
In graduate school, while earning a certificate in women's studies, I read Carol J. Adams's The Sexual Politics of Meat. Adams argues that meat-eating culture has normalized language and imagery that objectify women and animals in similar ways. For me, choosing a vegetarian lifestyle is one small way of resisting that.
7. The environmental impact
Animal agriculture has a large footprint. A major 2018 analysis of food systems found that even the lowest-impact meat and dairy typically have higher environmental impacts than plant-based alternatives, which is strong evidence that what we eat matters for the planet.
If you are thinking about making the switch, plan for a few nutrients. Get enough protein from beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh and whole grains, or add a shake: So Lean & So Clean provides 23 g of organic plant protein per serving. Vitamin B12 is found naturally almost only in animal foods, so vegans need fortified foods or a supplement. Omega-3 DHA is another to consider; see how to get vegan omega-3 and everyday vegan protein options. If you are pregnant or managing a health condition, talk to your doctor or a dietitian before a big diet change.
After years of listening to my body and researching the environmental, political and health effects of animal agriculture, I concluded that meat and dairy were not right for me. I hope my story encourages you to look into it yourself and make choices that feel healthy, ethical and right for you.
Written by Joanna Stone and updated by the Ora team.
