Why Would Someone Choose to Be a Vegan? The Core Motivations

December 9, 2025 •

4 min read

With a 5000% increase in Google searches for "vegan food near me" in 2021, many are curious about why someone would choose to be a vegan. The motivations are complex, spanning personal health goals, ethical beliefs, and environmental consciousness.

Quick Summary

People become vegan for a variety of ethical, health, and environmental reasons, driven by a desire to reduce animal suffering, lower their carbon footprint, and improve personal wellness. This article outlines the core motivations behind this lifestyle choice and what it entails.

Key Points

Ethical Opposition: Many become vegan to take a stand against the exploitation and cruelty of animals in the food and non-food industries.
Health Benefits: A well-planned vegan diet is linked to lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Environmental Protection: Veganism significantly reduces an individual’s carbon footprint, water usage, and land consumption compared to diets that include animal products.
Nutrient Awareness: Vegans must pay attention to key nutrients like Vitamin B12, Iron, and Calcium, which can be managed with fortified foods and supplements.
Lifestyle Choice: Veganism often extends beyond diet, influencing decisions on clothing, cosmetics, and other consumer goods to avoid animal exploitation.
Community Support: A growing number of online and local communities offer support, resources, and shared experiences for those adopting a vegan lifestyle.

The Ethical Imperative: Compassion for Animals

For many, the most compelling reason to choose to be a vegan is ethical concern for animal welfare. Ethical vegans believe that all sentient beings have an intrinsic right to life and freedom and that exploiting them for human consumption is morally wrong.

Rejecting Animal Exploitation

This ethical stance opposes the entire system of animal agriculture, which can involve intensive factory farming and the slaughter of animals for food. The use of misleading labels like “humanely raised” or “free range” on animal products is often seen as a way to mask cruelty, as the ultimate outcome is the same. Vegans extend this philosophy beyond diet, avoiding clothing, cosmetics, and other products derived from animals or tested on them, including leather, wool, and silk.

A Stand Against Speciesism

Ethical veganism is often rooted in antispeciesism, the belief that it is wrong to discriminate against animals based on their species membership. They argue that it is hypocritical to love and protect some animals (like pets) while consuming others. By choosing a vegan lifestyle, individuals take a concrete stand against the unnecessary suffering that occurs within the animal-product industries.

Health-Driven Decisions for a Better Body

A significant number of people are motivated by the potential health benefits of a well-planned vegan diet, which can be rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A well-balanced vegan diet is recognized by major nutritional and health organizations as suitable for all stages of life, including pregnancy and childhood.

Managing Chronic Disease Risk

Plant-based diets have been linked to a lower risk of several chronic health conditions. Studies have shown potential benefits including:

Lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Reduced rates of heart disease and stroke.
Lower risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
Maintenance of a healthier body mass index (BMI).

Navigating Nutritional Concerns

While highly beneficial, a vegan diet requires careful planning to ensure adequate intake of certain nutrients. Key nutrients of concern include:

Vitamin B12: Primarily found in animal products, B12 is essential for nerve function. Vegans must obtain it from fortified foods or supplements.
Iron: The non-heme iron from plants is less bioavailable than heme iron from meat. Vegans can boost absorption by pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources.
Calcium & Vitamin D: Essential for bone health, these can be obtained from fortified plant-based milks, tofu, and leafy greens.
Protein: Vegans can easily meet protein needs by consuming a varied mix of plant-based sources like legumes, tofu, seeds, and nuts.

The Environmental Footprint: Protecting the Planet

Awareness of animal agriculture’s heavy burden on the environment is another major driver for adopting a vegan diet. Choosing plant-based foods is one of the most effective individual actions one can take to lower their environmental impact.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Animal agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, including methane from livestock and carbon dioxide from feed production. Studies have shown that a vegan diet can have a substantially lower carbon footprint compared to an omnivorous one.

Conserving Resources

Livestock farming is resource-intensive, consuming vast amounts of land and water. Producing meat and dairy requires significantly more land and water than growing plant-based foods. By shifting to a plant-based diet, individuals contribute to more sustainable and equitable resource allocation.

Practicalities and Social Aspects of Veganism

Becoming vegan can present social and practical challenges, but resources and community support are more available than ever. Navigating social situations, finding dining options, and managing costs are common considerations.

Overcoming Challenges and Building Community

New vegans can overcome challenges by:

Gradually transitioning their diet to allow their body to adjust.
Learning new recipes to avoid reliance on highly processed vegan alternatives.
Connecting with online or local vegan communities for support and tips.
Researching product ingredients carefully to identify hidden animal derivatives.

Comparison of Motivations for Vegan and Vegetarian Diets


Aspect	Vegan	Vegetarian	Sources
Dietary Scope	Excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey.	Excludes meat, poultry, and fish, but may include dairy, eggs, or both.
Lifestyle Scope	A lifestyle extending beyond diet to include animal-free choices in clothing, cosmetics, and more.	Primarily a dietary choice, though some may also extend ethical concerns to other areas.
Primary Motivation	Often driven by strict ethical opposition to animal exploitation, alongside environmental and health factors.	Motivations can be more varied, including health, ethical concerns about animal slaughter, and cultural or religious reasons.
Environmental Impact	Generally lowest carbon and environmental footprint due to the complete exclusion of animal agriculture.	Lower environmental impact than omnivorous diets, but still relies on dairy and egg farming, which have resource demands.
Nutritional Needs	Requires careful planning and often supplements (especially B12, D) due to stricter exclusions.	Less complex planning needed than a vegan diet as dairy and eggs provide some key nutrients like B12 and calcium.

Conclusion: A Multifaceted Choice

The decision to choose to be a vegan is a highly personal one, stemming from a variety of deep-seated motivations. Whether driven by a profound ethical commitment to animal rights, a pursuit of improved personal health, or a desire to lessen one’s environmental impact, the lifestyle reflects a conscious choice for a more compassionate and sustainable world. The growing availability of plant-based options and supportive communities makes embracing veganism more accessible than ever, allowing individuals to align their actions with their values and contribute to meaningful change. To find more resources on living a vegan life, consider visiting the website of The Vegan Society.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a well-planned vegan diet is considered healthy and nutritionally adequate for all stages of life, including pregnancy and infancy. It tends to be higher in fiber, vitamins, and minerals while being lower in saturated fat.

Vegans can get plenty of protein from a variety of plant-based sources, including lentils, beans, tofu, tempeh, seeds, nuts, and whole grains. Combining different plant proteins throughout the day ensures all essential amino acids are consumed.

It is essential for vegans to supplement with Vitamin B12, as it is not reliably found in plant-based whole foods. Other nutrients like Vitamin D, Calcium, and Iron should be monitored and supplemented if necessary.

A vegan diet can be very affordable, especially when centered on whole plant foods like rice, beans, potatoes, and vegetables. The cost can increase with a heavy reliance on processed vegan junk foods and expensive meat substitutes.

Vegetarians avoid meat, poultry, and fish but may still eat other animal products like dairy and eggs. Vegans take it a step further, avoiding all animal-derived products, including eggs, dairy, and honey.

Yes, adopting a vegan diet is one of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental impact. It lowers your carbon footprint, reduces water and land use, and contributes to a more sustainable food system.

The availability of vegan food has increased dramatically in recent years. Most grocery stores now carry a wide variety of plant-based products, and many restaurants offer vegan options, making it easier than ever to maintain a vegan diet.

Many vegans find it helpful to communicate their dietary needs politely and in advance. Planning ahead by researching restaurant options or bringing a dish to share at family gatherings can minimize friction and stress.