Veganism and vegetarianism are hot-button topics right now, with more people than ever eliminating meat and/or all animal products from their diets in an effort to curb the climate crisis, to better their health, or for moral reasons. But is it really worth all the hype? By going vegan, as one person out of almost 8 billion, is it going to make an impact? There's a lot more to unpack than meets the eye when it comes to veganism. As a vegan myself, I am passionate and care about the movement, but I can admit the flaws and imperfections in it as well.

One of the main claims in veganism is the health benefits that it promises, but are these claims backed by science? Well, yes and no. Multiple studies have found that a vegan diet can help people lose weight, lower blood sugar, improve kidney function, reduce the risk of cancer, lower risk of heart disease, and even reduce arthritic pain. However, this is only if veganism is done right - aka a perfectly balanced diet with no junk food. The biggest fault in these studies is that they don't take into account the amount of junk food that's vegan. Most chips, fries, and other greasy potato-based foods are vegan, as well as Oreos, Nutter Butters, soda, certain cake and brownie mixes, frosting brands, and so much more. The average vegan, myself included, is not going to have a textbook perfect diet and will turn to these sugary, greasy foods as fillers when we get cravings for foods we can't have.

Another claim that a lot of vegans make is that everyone should be vegan. That it's possible and healthy for every single person on this earth to switch over to a vegan diet. While I agree that it can help a lot of people with health issues, being vegan is a huge privilege reserved for those who not only can access the right foods, but who can afford them as well. While buying whole fruits and vegetables is pretty inexpensive, when we get into the fancy meat and milk substitutes, snacks, and vegan cafes/restaurants, the prices start to skyrocket. Not to mention the privilege of having time to cook or meal prep big healthy vegan meals. Think about it, if you have $5 in your budget for dinner, are you going to buy 4 or 5 avocadoes, or are you going to buy a Big Mac, medium fries, and a drink? Veganism is just not possible for low-income families.

Which leads me to my next point: the climate impact. Is animal agriculture the number one destroyer of forests, ecosystems, and our atmosphere? Yes. Does going vegan reduce the demand, and therefore the supply of animal agriculture? Yes. In recent years, the vegan movement has significantly hurt the dairy and meat industries and has inspired chain restaurants like Burger King and Taco Bell to supply plant-based alternatives. However, the system of food in America still favors the extremely wealthy owners of food companies such as PepsiCo, General Mills, Dole, Nestlé, and Kraft. Even by going vegan, you're going to buy products from these food companies - especially from Dole, the world's largest producer of fruits and vegetables. You may have heard the phrase, "there's no ethical consumption under capitalism", meaning that no matter how organic or climate-friendly something seems, you're still contributing to a factory-farmed, GMO-filled, low-wage labored system of food creation and distribution. The only truly ethical and climate-friendly way to eat is to grow all your own food and buy from local farms, which just isn't practical for most people - especially in winter months.

Lastly, we have the problem with vegans themselves - mainly white millennial women who pride themselves on their moral high grounds in society. The important thing to remember is that while animals don't deserve to be killed or abused, humans, at the end of the day, are more important. Issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, etc. are more urgent than animal rights. If you don't care about human lives than what's the point of going vegan for animal ones? We also need to recognize indigenous practices and how important certain foods (yes, meat included) are to their history and culture. Being rude or snobby about your veganism isn't a good look either - it's not going to make anyone want to go vegan with you, and will ultimately hurt people's views of veganism.

So why am I still vegan? I feel healthier, it helps me manage my weight, I don't feel moral eating animals, and honestly, I think animal products are gross. But I know it's a privilege and I can recognize the issues surrounding the movement. Vegans need to take a step back and reevaluate their positions in society - yes, veganism has made a positive impact on the climate and can be a very healthy lifestyle, at the end of the day, it's just not for everyone.