Why am I a vegan? I do it for my mental health
Vegan restaurants are closing, RFK Jr is sounding the drum for carnivores, and the protein cult is bigger than ever. But eschewing animal products helps me ward off a sense of impotence – and despair
TL;DR
- Veganism is experiencing a downturn, with a wave of vegan restaurant closures and declining sales of meat substitutes.
- Meat sales are increasing, partly seen as a rejection of 'woke' orthodoxies and environmental concerns.
- Health trends and concerns about ultra-processed vegan foods (UPFs) are impacting interest in plant-based diets.
- Some individuals are disengaging from veganism due to a sense of futility regarding climate change and the perceived limited impact of personal actions.
- The author posits that focusing on personal well-being, including mental health and avoiding complicity in factory farming and animal cruelty, remains a strong motivation for veganism.