Vegan-shaming should be stopped

This+pasta+is+covered+in+a+tomato+cream+sauce.+The+sauce+contains+nutritional+yeast+to+give+it+a+cheesier+flavor+and+almond+milk+to+make+it+creamier.+

Isabelle Braun

This pasta is covered in a tomato cream sauce. The sauce contains nutritional yeast to give it a cheesier flavor and almond milk to make it creamier.

Being a vegetarian for around six years allows for time to understand that when you tell people you’re a vegetarian, you’re going to get some comments.

While those comments may just be curiosity, there’s always going to be that one person who says something rude.

The same is true with veganism. As of this year, I have been a vegan. People often ask me how I’m alive, where I get my protein and if I ever really want a meat or dairy product. That doesn’t bother me.

What bothers me is when people think that it is okay to vegan-shame me. Don’t get me wrong, I can take it, and I do. However, I shouldn’t have to.

I chose to be vegan for many reasons. I don’t like how they treat animals, and to be honest, I feel better now that I’m vegan.

According to the United States National Library of Medicine, it has been found that vegans experience a 75 percent risk reduction of hypertension compared to non-vegetarians. Other risk reductions include a 78 percent for diabetes. Vegan males experience a 14 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 55 percent risk reduction for ischemic heart disease.

While people will respond with facts such as that vegans experience a 73 percent high risk for urinary tract cancer, there are many things that show many benefits. To me, they greatly outweigh the fact that I may get urinary tract cancer.

Those who vegan-shame should realize that it is a person’s choice and should respect it. Not everyone understands it, but understanding everything isn’t what life is about.

19ibraun@usd489.com