The Upsides and Downsides of Becoming Vegan

Most vegan and animal rights organizations will only try to sell you on the positive aspects of veganism. It makes sense—there are a lot of great reasons to adopt an animal-free lifestyle. While there are these benefits, there are some downsides to changing you lifestyle as well. For many people, the reasons behind veganism greatly outweigh any downsides, but it helps to know what to expect, both good and bad, when deciding to make such a big life change.

The Upsides

  • Get Sick Less Often: Research shows that going vegan can significantly boost your immunity. You’re less likely to catch the common cold and the flu, once you’ve gone animal-free.
  • Save Moo-lah: Meat products are a lot more energy and time intensive to harvest and bring to the grocery store than plant-based ones. Since you’re not shelling out big bucks for meat, you can enjoy that extra money by buying a pint of coconut milk ice cream or Tom’s shoes.
  • Avoid Food Contaminants: The great majority of food contaminants, like mercury or e.coli, happen in animal-based foods.
  • Become a Better Cook: For many people, going vegan means they learn to cook a wider range and more interesting variety of dishes. Without meat to rely on, you’re forced to experiment with other ways to cultivate flavor.
  • Feel Good About Yourself: I’m not saying you should get too self-righteous, but as a vegan, your diet takes 13 times less fertilizer, 2.5 times less energy, and 2.9 times less water to produce.

The Downsides

  • The Nagging: Perhaps one of the most annoying things about adopting a vegan lifestyle is the smattering of uninformed questions you can expect. Some people won’t accept your ethical arguments for veganism, or they’ll even go as far as to deny that animal-based foods harm the earth.
  • An Initial Dip in Energy: Although the government and many scientific studies have confirmed that a well-balanced vegan diet is a healthy way to live, many people experience an initial shift in energy when they quit eating meat. As your body adjusts to your new plant-based diet, your metabolism with change as well, and some initial tiredness isn’t unusual. The good news is that it will pass. In the meantime, ensure that you’re getting enough protein, iron, and other nutrients in your new diet.
  • A Shift in Perspective: For many vegans, becoming vegan is an ideological, as well as a lifestyle, position. There can be added stress with adopting such a new, comprehensive worldview. Everyday occurrences that never concerned you before can take on new weight. For example, for a scientist who is a new vegan, they must grapple with the existence of animal experimentation, and how it figures into their vegan mindset. Even something as simple as accepting a gift from a friend can become fraught with problems, considering the widespread use of animal products in the modern world.

Sources: 

Diet and the environment: does what you eat matter? (2009) Harold J Marlow, William K Hayes, Samuel Soret, Ronald L Carter, Ernest R Schwab, and Joan Sabaté. American Society For Nutrition.

Eating For Your Health. (2011) PETA.