There is something that I think is very funny about eating a meat-free diet...something I've observed in how people react to even knowing that I don't eat meat. Often, people take a defensive position in response to knowing that I'm vegan/vegetarian. This is why I try not to say anything about veganism or vegetarianism unless someone else brings it up or asks me directly.

"whether u like it or not,our bodies are designed to eat both plants and meats.omnivores.from our teeth to our guts."

Comments like that...make me laugh. Whether I like it or not? I realize that humans are naturally omnivorous. If you'd care to know the concept behind why I am vegan, I'll share it with you. Our bodies are extremely versatile and adjust to work with our environment, food intake, social interactions, stress levels, whatever we throw at it. We can choose to eat meat exclusively and our bodies will survive for many many years. We can choose to eat vegetables exclusively and our bodies will survive for many many (more) years. We can choose to eat an omnivorous diet, which most people do, and get a good mix of meats and vegetables. Many successful omnivorous diet plans suggest eating mostly vegetables and only limited amounts of meat. You really can't go wrong with eating as many fresh vegetables as your body can take. You may shit a whole lot, but your body will love you for it later.

So, with that said, one of the main reasons why I choose to eat a vegan diet is...because I can. I have the ability in today's modern society to have access to a myriad of plant-based foods that are not naturally from this region of the world but have been shipped from other countries many years ago and they now grow here, or they are shipped directly from overseas. All kinds of grains, greens, legumes, fruit...and foods items like tofu, tempeh, quorn, falafel. These things did not exist in this part of the world 100 years ago like they do now. Now I have a lot of veggie options to get the adequate nutrients that my body needs. Therefore, I no longer need to ask that from animals. Since I like animals, it works for me.

To go deeper into the issue...I believe there is a major unbalance in the earth...between humans and the rest of the planet. Other animals usually have some sort of balance between predator and prey and between them and the environment. Ever since we've started making stone tools, we've stepped past our natural boundaries and have covered most of the globe with our buildings, structures, houses, golf courses, amusement parks. I think we've asked way too much from the rest of the earh...the land, the plants and animals.

If I were on a deserted island and there was nothing to eat but a few plants and some fish...I would eat the plants and the fish. If I were stranded in the Alps like in the movie "ALIVE", I would be the first person to start cutting up the human carcasses and eating them. But I would appreciate what the fish (and the dead humans) have given me, and not expect it simply beacuse I'm human. Right now, I don't live on a deserted island nor am I stranded in the Alps.

Anyway, if it's done properly, I think a vegan diet can be extremely rewarding nutritionally, because you can't help but get lots of vitamins and minerals from the vegetables as well as fiber to clean out your system. Most people don't get enough of those things. With a meat-free diet, there are only a handful of things to be concerned about...things such as vitamin B12...or perhaps allergies to things such as gluten in wheat. With omnivorous diets, there are a LOT more things to consider that are linked to eating meat...such as colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. Though, unlike other vegans/vegetarians, I don't compare meat-eating to something as harmful as smoking cigarettes. Some vegetarians act as if meat-eating is the same as poisoning yourself. I don't believe that.

I hope that explains most of my reasons for being vegan...and I hope that makes you realize that I don't hate anyone because they are not vegan. So relax.