I used to think animal products were necessary for our survival and therefore thought it was a necessary evil... But when I found out it wasn't...

I have been a vegan for the past 27 years.

In addition to ethics, I find the mere thought of eating blood, blood vessels, fat, muscle, the occasional tapeworm, and some fecal matter gross!

After many years of being a vegetarian, I am now 99% vegan - still a little way to go but I will get there.

I became a vegetarian at 12 for ethical reasons and have been vegan for many years.

I love animals too much! Simple as that. :)

Its all about cultivating peace in the world. Veganism to me is another word for non-violence, it's not just about food. It's about life.

Pretty much a tie between "religious" (although I would call it "spiritual" and the ethics/compassion/animal rights category,yet my sense of needing to do this for my spirituality came first and predominates.

Animals don't want to die and be eaten. Ask 'em.

"You are what you eat"

Animals are so beautiful

It is not just one reason, for many reasons I choose a compassionate diet.

I've been a vegetarian for over a year now and am slowly going vegan. My health has improved so much. I have also changed my toiletries so I'm using nothing that has been tested on animals .

I Love Animals.

Raised vegetarian, and became vegan for ethical reasons.

Fear . Fear of the hospitals , the medications , the angry chickens . They all creep me out and keep me veggie style.So I continue.  Yes to me the ethical aspects are a supper bonus .but in reality I just can't eat dead animal . I would die of starvation of this  was my only source of food.my father was a matador . For realz . Cow . Pork or chicken on the plate every night .So my point being is it seems that I did not choose being a veg  but rather has chosen me.

waste of energy feeding animals to eat. stop breeding animals to eat them, its pointless and cruel.the whole farming system is nuts and I know I am a farmer and a veggie. we grow crops with chemicals to feed to pigs with more chemicals to eat. Meat eaters bad luck.

my spiritual life is by far the most important to meand how could I grow towards the light and be eating our cousins, polluting my body temple.

Do unto others as you'd have Them do unto you.

I love animal.

ethical , health and environmental ... it is a win win win choice to become vegan. plus you can piss off your redneck family members and friends just by not eating animal products that's a bonus win

Vegan for us here is not a diet is a life style... I can not envision our family any other way, ... Our world is not only a provider but our shelter any living being deserves love, attention, happiness and a chance to live a fulfilling life with the least amount of suffering.

First reason was selfish - my health but then environmental and compassion occured to be not less important

Have major opposition to factory farming and feel that animals don't need to die for me to eat.

For me, there'sv no turning my back on what I know.

I don't believe in exploiting and killing animals for food.

What is done to innocent animals for the most trivial of reasons .is so unjust and immoral.

Why can't there be multiple equal reasons? My health is inextricably tied to compassion and the environment... and for some that is also a religion. Separating some of these things defeats the purpose.

Compassion, understanding, and just being more thoughtful toward animals will always be primary...but environmental issues and health are also important to me.

First and foremost for the animals. Environment and health are also very important to me.

Animals are unique, sentient, amazing beings that like all living beings- must be free to live and enjoy their lives:)

Better health was the initial reason for me to become vegan. Since I became vegan I realized that animals were being mistreated and they need our help!

To reduce suffering is the purpose of all humanity.

I'd like to be able to order some of these since I have many reasons.

In my mind i started as a health issue and in time came to realize that ethics was just as important.

My original reason for the choice was Health but I feel that animal rights are more important at this time.

By what right do I buy my own continuing survival by sacrificing the life of another conscious being?

My original reason was for health but I quickly came to feel that animal rights are even more important. The environment is critical too! It is difficult to select just one!

The first of the Buddhist Pratimoksa vows is "No killing."

Meditation is affected by what we eat. I also believe in the rights of sentient beings.

Animals are my friends, and I don't eat my friends

If you can raise and kill animals humanely, then you have the right to eat them. I can't. Just so happens that there is a HUGE health benefit for not eating animals or their milk.

I started both vegetarianism and veganism I guess for the sake of it. Though, a little while after, I learned truths about it. Due to that part of my life, I am now an animal and environmental activist.Now, I am a misanthropist, lol

I have always been an animal rights activist....I also am vegetarian/vegan for health and protecton of our environment.

love and peace

There are so many good reasons. But what did it for me was 30 years ago I was about to eat some broiled flounder that was on my plate when he suddenly looked up at me and with big sad fish eyes asked "why?"

Because everything about this diet is positive and beneficial and I've never been happier.

I chose health, but not just for the obvious reasons. I want to strive for a healthy, cruelty-free (by human hands at least) planet too.

animals have a right to live as much as we all do

Environmental as well. As we take lives, we take our own too.

I am repulsed by the sight and smell of meat. BBQs make me gag. I don't need to take an animal's life to survive. I am appalled at the conditions animals that are slaughtered for eating are kept in. I cannot believe that people toss live lobsters into a boiling pot of water and cook them alive.  I am saddened that the greater society thinks this is okay.

We are visitors here. Tread lightly.

Its the kind thing to do

Health maintenance was the trigger for going vegan rather than vegetarian

There is something like 150 billion animals killed every year for the current population of people. As more people adopt a western diet in Asia not only do they get negative health benefits from too much meat consumption, but forecasts see that number doubling in the next twenty years. All those animals need food and water and the math does not work out. There is not enough water and food to raise animals to be slaughtered for food and trying to do so is already having huge impacts on the planet.

Eating healthy is an investment. Manger santé est un investissement.

I love all beings, BIG or small. Everybody deserves life and love.

Every person, or animal, just wants to enjoy life. Live and let live.

Grew up vegetarian, later I chose to stay vegetarian and became vegan.

I'm actually ashamed to be human with how we treat what Mother Nature has provided us with.

Ethics and environmental!!!

I am an animal rights activist. Vegan means justice, has nothing to do with food. I eat fruits. The most imporant action in this life is bringing justice for animals to this pile of dust, the planet of primitive dogs.

Ethics is the primary reason, but others are also important

Healthy body, mind and soul

Taste ought to be in that list.

There should be a mark all that apply option. I did it for peace. Peace for animals, peace for the planet, and peace for my health.

Although raised on a farm, cognitive dissonance caught up with me. Three dogs piled in a basket at a market patiently waiting to be killed and consumed was enough for me.

Raised vegetarian and spiritual believes.

My Religious or Spiritual reasons are the most important concerns for me. However, all of the other items listed are important to me. I do not know about "standing out from a crowd". However, I do tend to be reclusive. Thanks! Hare Krsna!

It started out as a religious commitment but now my vegetarianism is for animal rights.

Not do much that I like to stand out, but more so that I don't like to fit in. Also for health, ethics, environment, etc. I see it all connected.

1. health 2. animal welfare 3. environment

As a vegetarian runner I enjoy boasting about my optimal health. However, I am also all for following God's food rules and protecting the animals and the environment.

Family's choice and religious belief..I never regret being a vegetarian..It made me feel nice physically and other aspects of life

Health and ethics

Ethics, health, environmental, sentient being issue

Ethical reasons too. Worked on farms as a kid and that experience always disturbs me.

Ethics is the most important reason closely followed by environmental and health reasons.

Heal, Spiritual, Ethical a combination. Recently embraced vegan and raw foods..wow loving it!!

Health and environment.

I did veganism for everything. I don't need to explain it.

Animals can suffer and i cant see that

all about the ethics!!!!!!!

I believe that, being kind and compassion are the strongest strengths humans must need to have but now a days its totally lacking in humans.

Associated reasons were spirituality  (not religion) and compassion due to an evolving sensitivity from meditation.

health and enviornment are equally important to me

Health and environmental issues too.I don't want to be part of the appalling way humans treat animals.

It is a close tossup between ethics, compassion and animal rights and the environment choice, my view of the environment has it encompassing those though.

What we are doing to animals is disgusting and inhumane. It is horrible.

For God the Creator who made all things and cares about all creatures and the planet.

Vegan for everything

common sense

I chose ethics because environment too should fall under that category...

Go vegan for the animals, the world and everything!

Health is always important and religion

Save animals save environment

All beings deserve an opportunity to live their life. Humans have ability to consciously reason and choose and animals are defenseless creatures driven by their natural instincts. Our responsibility to care for them and not to kill!

With compassionate Awareness, living in the Present Moment, we realize that we are One with All That Is, esp. all sentient beings like animals. Why cause cause further suffering to aspects of our own Inner Self, the Consciousness that pervades everything?

I consider animals some of my best friends.

OF COURSE ANIMAL RIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love the last answer though i'm gonna start sayin' that!!!!!!!!!!

I have many reasons why I am a vegetarian, not least health and ethical reasons. However, the environmental impact of carnivores is saddening.

Ethics. Hate the abuse to animals but gained so many health and environmental positives that are awesome!!!

And, it's only natural to not eat a caucaus.

Health

ethical and spiritual ~ how can I say that the life force or consciousness in creatures is different than that in me? My experience is when I am able to acknowledge living beings for that life force or essential self, then feel a reciprocal connection. We are connected! And I cannot contribute to the suffering of other living beings when there are so many awesome and tasty and way more healthy options!

My reasons have varied over time. Ethical, environmental and for health

And health and environmental reasons

I am a vegetarian because of ethical reasons. The best part about choosing a vegetarian diet is that it is healthy too. Peace.

I had a hard time choosing between ethic/compassion/animal rights and the environmental options. I think the environment is part of that.

Reasons for being Began .. Health and environmental reasons too, prevention better than cure as the saying goes.

I became vegan to cure my high blood pressure, later became an ethical vegan, won't even eat a cookie if it has dairy or egg, even though I know just one wouldn't affect my health.

Both health and spiritual.

Also, It is very healthy to be vegan!

All life is precious.

There are so many reasons to not eat meat. The first reason I became vegetarian was when I was a child and no longer wanted to eat animals. Since becoming a vegetarian I found so many other reasons to stay vegetarian including environmental, health, financial, etc.

Health and environment are also important to me as well.

Health and environment as well

I don't eat anything with eyeballs.The eyes are the windows to the soul.

Learning about the impact of farming and the treatment of animals helped me decide to go vegan.

To connect the unconnected in unexpected ways, it matters!

Once I stopped eating animal products for environmental and health reasons, my heart became open to feeling compassion for all beings.

also health, environment

I like to minimize killing

All animals are friends - not food!

All mammals on earth are raw vegans except humans, and they don't suffer from the diseases that humans do. Most human diseases can be traced to eating animals and processed food and environmental pollution, with genetics only accounting for 6-7%.

Ethical - Humans need to be the voice of animals, we need to stop this crazy holocaust of animals

health is a great benefit

Health also and opened mind, environment.

Animals are my friends and I don't eat my friends!

they must be respect like anything alive

Only for the animals. The fact that veganism is great for the Earth and the only logical thing to do, comes as a number 2, and my own health comes after that

Animals are my friends and Angels for humans to care for and love and look after, the fear of being killed goes into the emotional body of the human I like to live clean and have a light footprint on our Earth.

All the reasons here and more- one's bodies (all levels) become more atomic (light-filled).

All the above.

Animals all the way. The environmental and health benefits are just gravy--vegan gravy, of course!

I was a vegetarian before I could walk and talk. :) Seriously as a child I'd hide any meat under the side items. So it's kinda a natural state of being that I never gave up.

Health is great on my Vegan diet.

This is a choice I have lived by for many years.

At first it was finacial and health reason, later religious and ethics.

what made me vegetarian were the health benefits but what made me vegan were the ethics and environmental aspects and understanding that all beings were connected, and it's not right of us to cause so much harm.

Environmental becausevits goid for the earth, the animals, and my health.

I feel unique when im sitting in a round table with the people i know.

Only one choice compassion

ALL LIVES MATTER

I Love Animals

Initially health was my primary motivator then it became common sense and compassion.

Compassion has become important to me, I felt a conflicted for years while still eating meat.

Jesus did not eat meat. I follow Jesus. Jesus was prolife and compassionate. I follow Jesus.

I love you all :)

It is Ethics, Health and Environment.

I do not want to satiate my hunger with some others' life.

all beings are equal, no one has the right to take other's beings lives.

I was born in veg family, its part of my religion . Now it is a conscious choice.

I woke up, went vegan and feel great.

Both ethics and health.

No longer shall we turn a blind eye while our brothers and sisters in feathers and fur are brutally tortured and murdered.

Health, Ethics/Compassion/Animal Rights brought me as Vegan. Religion and Health issues.

Animal foods are bad for us & the poor Animals Being Abused!

I was brought up by an inspirational Mum, who is vegetarian. We were all brought up to respect animals and our bodies. I also believe in organics and healthy mind, body and soul.

1, 2, & 4.

...just following my heart.

There is no need to kill to nourish oneself.

Health (physical, emotional, spiritual) -- mine, the animals', the planet's

1, 2, & 4. I honour and respect all living being, with love.

Its also the fountain of youth and saving lives both you and animals

We don't need to kill and torture animals to survive. Humans are greedy and self serving and it makes me sick how some people can disassociate themselves and become desensitised to the horrific and unnecessary cruelty of the meat, diary and fur trade

Animal kinship!

Not only animals are being used so are fellow humans.

It all started as a selfish need to obtain the healthiest lifestyle. But at this point of my life, nothing is more important to me than the life of the oppressed. The nameless. The voiceless. Injustice cannot last forever.

This is all about unconditionally loving, sharing and showing our Beloved Earthlings there is another more conscious way of Well-Being. It is all about giving, not taking...

...Do no harm. To yourself, and to the life and world around you.

I gauge a person by how she/he treats people they have nothing to gain from, animals and the Earth. To be vegetarian is to be more spiritually aware. To respect all consciousness is to be more conscious. The most vulnerable are not there to be abused, exploited and killed!! True compassion and love is not conditional.

It started with my health and went from there.

& the way to better health.

I did it mainly for health reasons at the start, now its my life! I am happy and proud to have gone vegan, it has been one of the best decision i have made in life and now i do it not just for health but for the rest of the impact it has on the world and the animals. <3

Violence, arrogance and cruelty. It is enough

One cannot live a life centered in love and kindness and also eat animals.

I am into spirituality

All life is precious. Animals are not property.

Although I stopped eating animals to achieve better health. I am now a strong ethical vegan.

Growing up the 'culture' said had to have meat and dairy to be healthy.Now the grocery store aisles are full of processed food, which can't be good for us. No wonder many are fat, sick and nearly dead!Have awoken and changing lifestyle to reflect new understanding of nutrition (which like to read up on and watch video on often), to separate myself from and make others aware of the cruelty imposed on  our fellow earth creatures who are part of the human commodity food chain, and to hopefully help others to see that there is a better way, and of course to continue growing and making positive lifestyle changes, outlook,  attitudes, etc.

Because I love all animals!

First just health reasons, but staying vegan for the ethical reasons

Dont want animals to suffer or die for my lifestyle.

Just for health. Would love to live like most others just can't.

it's all. ethics /compassion /animal rights and health

All life is equal

I cannot continue to contribute to the torture and suffering of animals.

I love all animals and they do have emotions. I can't tolerate animal abuse.....let them live in peace !

love

Started out as health choice. Now it is ethical - could never go back.

Grew up on a dairy farm and loved the cows. So went vegetarian in my early twenties. Recently went vegan because I learned how even eating dairy causes suffering to the cows and their calves. On the farm it seemed they were well cared for but I never asked where the male calves went when they were taken away, or stopped to consider that the cows must always be kept pregnant to produce milk. Never considered the pain to the Mother having her new baby taken away. For me it was the next step in consciousness. But also love the health benefits.

hoping to limit my impact on our planet.

There can be other reasons, but they should be considered insignificant compared to basic compassion and a disgust at the human murder of animals.

health of the animals

All of the above three, but it won't let you click Ethics, Health and Religious (bhakta yoga practitioner) together. All are equally important to me.

Animals have a soul and d'user et our respect and love

There are three good reasons for being a vegetarian, not killing animals, saving the environment, and health. They are all important and no other choice has so many positives.

Environmental impact is the more common answer I'd give as to why I'm still vegetarian after 25 years of it but originally it was from a concern for animal welfare

All of the five first reasons above.

For health but over time realise the benefit to the planet Earth and animals.