5 Big Reasons to Go Vegan
It usually starts with a single question: Why am I still eating this when I know where it comes from and how much the animal suffered during their life? For some people, it’s a documentary. For others, it’s a health scare, a climate report, or a heartfelt conversation with a friend. But no matter how the seed is planted, going vegan has become one of the most meaningful lifestyle changes a person can make for animals, themselves, and for the planet. And while it might seem overwhelming at first, the reasons to make the switch are powerful — and deeply personal.
Let’s dive into why going vegan isn’t just a trend. It’s a conscious choice that truly makes sense.
What Is Veganism?
At its core, veganism is a lifestyle that seeks to eliminate all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether for food, clothing, accessories, or any other purpose. Veganism is not just a diet; it’s a way of living that aligns your actions with your values, especially if those values include compassion, sustainability, and wellness.
What Is a Vegan Diet?
As part of this lifestyle, vegans do not eat meat (including seafood), dairy, eggs, or honey, and they avoid all products made from animals, such as leather, wool, and silk. A healthy vegan diet is centered around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, all rich in the nutrients your body needs.
Vegan vs. Vegetarian: What’s the Difference?
While vegetarians avoid meat, they may still consume dairy products, eggs, and other animal-derived ingredients. Vegans, on the other hand, take it a step further by eliminating all animal products from their diet and lifestyle. The distinction isn’t just about food; it's also about ethics and environmental impact.
Why go all the way? Because the dairy and egg industries are often just as harmful as meat production. Dairy cows and egg-laying hens are subjected to:
Intensive confinement
Painful procedures with no anesthesia
Violence and various forms of abuse, including sexual abuse, from workers
Forced breeding
Having their babies taken away from them
Early, brutal, and unjust death that is essentially murder
In short, being vegetarian is a great start, and definitely worth doing, but going vegan ensures your choices align more fully with cruelty-free living.
The Benefits of Going Vegan
For the Animals
One of the biggest reasons people go vegan is to stop supporting industries that cause animals to suffer. Every year, billions of animals are raised and killed in large-scale factory farms under harsh, inhumane conditions. Going vegan saves countless animals from a life of confinement, mutilation, and slaughter. Simply put: every plant-based meal is a vote against cruelty and a step toward a more compassionate world.
In addition to going vegan yourself, you can help save innocent animals from cruelty and suffering by:
Educating others about what is done to animals on factory farms
Donating to farmed animal sanctuaries and other animal advocacy groups
Volunteering with a farmed animal sanctuary or animal advocacy group
For Your Health
The benefits of a vegan diet might surprise you. A well-balanced regimen is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and plant-based nutrients, and it’s free from the saturated fats and cholesterol found in animal products. (It’s also free from meat-based pathogens that can cause illness.) Studies show that vegans typically have lower rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
Need even more health benefits of going vegan to make the switch? Vegan diets are often associated with healthier weights and lower BMI. Contrary to what many may think, it’s not about being restrictive — it’s about nourishing your body with foods that best help it thrive.
In addition to improving your own health, you can support the wellness and human rights of vulnerable factory farm workers and farm-adjacent communities. How? Start educating yourself and others about the public health hazards caused by these operations.
For the Planet
Switching to a vegan diet is one of the most impactful actions individuals can take to combat climate change. That’s because animal agriculture is responsible for a significant percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Protecting the environment is about more than emissions. Producing meat and dairy requires massive amounts of land, water, and grain. Going vegan conserves precious natural resources and helps preserve biodiversity.
For Food Equity
It takes several pounds of grain to produce just one pound of beef. That grain could instead be used to feed hungry people around the world. By cutting out the “middleman” (animals), vegan diets make food systems more efficient and equitable. In a world where millions face food insecurity, a widespread shift toward plant-based eating could help ensure more people have enough to eat.
For a Kinder, More Respectful Lifestyle
Many people report feeling more connected, intentional, and at peace after going vegan. Embracing veganism often leads to a ripple effect of positive lifestyle changes, such as reducing waste, being more mindful, and supporting ethical brands. Choosing veganism isn’t just about what you stop doing; it’s about the powerful impact you start making.
Veganism is about aligning your values with your habits and recognizing that your everyday choices have power. When you choose compassion over cruelty, wellness over illness, and sustainability over destruction, you’re not just changing your diet — you’re helping to change the world.
Embrace a Humane Lifestyle With The Riley Farm Rescue
People have been led to believe that farmed animals don’t have needs, emotions, or individual personalities in the same way pets do. At The Riley Farm Rescue in Canterbury, Connecticut, we challenge the status quo. We have rescued hundreds of animals — chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, sheep, peacocks, reptiles, emus, mini horses, and more — from various situations, including factory farms and slaughterhouses.
In addition to rescue, our mission now includes advocating for a completely vegan lifestyle. Contact us today to learn more, plan a tour of our farm, and see the happy and full lives our rescues are now living.
If you own a business, please consider sponsoring us! Anyone can also become a powerful voice for the voiceless by going vegan, educating others about factory farming, and supporting our work.