r/Veganism

Ethics.

I came across a recent review on the role of pulses: lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas and soy in healthy and sustainable diets, and it made me think about something much deeper than food.

The review highlights that pulses are rich in protein, dietary fibre and various bioactive compounds. Their fibre can influence the gut microbiome and increase the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are involved in gut and metabolic health. Some studies also report improvements in markers such as blood glucose and cholesterol, although the authors emphasise that stronger long-term human studies are still needed.

There is also the sustainability aspect.

Pulses generally have a lower environmental footprint than animal-based protein sources, and legumes can fix nitrogen, helping reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers.

So scientifically, there is a strong case for giving pulses a much bigger place in our diets.

But here comes the interesting question:

If we know these things, why don't we change accordingly?

We often think that if we give a person enough facts, they will automatically make the right decision.

But do they?

We know smoking is harmful, yet people smoke.

We know excessive consumption is harmful, yet we keep consuming.

We know climate change is happening, yet we continue many habits that contribute to it.

We know animals experience suffering, yet we can continue eating them without seriously questioning the habit.

So perhaps the problem is not always a lack of information.

Perhaps the deeper problem is conditioning.

From childhood, we are told what is normal to eat, what is necessary, what is tasty, what gives strength and what people like us are supposed to consume.

Then the mind creates reasons around these existing desires.

First comes the attachment.

Then comes the justification.

It gives an interesting perspective and that is:

Desire can distort our relationship with facts.

We don't necessarily ask, “What is true?”

We often ask:

"What truth allows me to continue doing what I already want to do?”

That is a very different question.

The scientific article doesn't tell us that pulses are a magical food or that one review proves everything about diet. In fact, the researchers themselves call for better long-term human studies.

But perhaps the value of such research is not only in giving us more information.

It gives us an opportunity to look at ourselves.

When evidence challenges my habits, do I investigate honestly?

Or do I immediately look for an argument that protects my habit?

That may be the real challenge, not learning more facts, but becoming free enough to look at facts without asking them to serve our desires.

We already know a lot.

The question is: why doesn't knowing become living?

Ref: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260809/Why-pulses-could-play-a-bigger-role-in-healthy-and-sustainable-diets.aspx

….this is like my 4th attempt. I feel so silly even posting about this. I first went vegan almost 10 years ago in my 20s and lasted about 2 years then fell off. Tried again a couple times since then to varying success. My latest attempt was almost a year ago to date and only lasted a few months. Idk why I’m having such a hard time with this. It aligns with my morals and politics. I think part of it could simply be anxiety, especially around food. At this point I’m finding it hard to even tell my friends and family bc they’ve heard it all before. Literally the last time I tried my dad was like “okay yeah, for how long this time?” And sadly he was right. Clearly something in me genuinely WANTS to be vegan, otherwise I wouldn’t keep trying. I live with my family, so I know I can’t keep skirting around it. Idk why I feel the need to “hide” it. I’m grown af. I guess I just feel a little silly. Like “the weirdo who cried vegan”.

Posting from a throwaway.

Don't believe me? This is undeniably proven true. 99% of all meat in America and 70% of all meat on Earth comes from CAFOs, a fancy term for factory farms, which is a fancy term for inflicting onto innocent animals the same conditions as the most sadistic medieval prison cell ever designed, called the "little ease", which was actually more humane than factory farms. Solitary confinement for the most despicable human criminals is also far better than factory farming

The video answers some of the common question of hypocrisy tho which aren't really hypocrisy on vegan's position to begin with.