Why Do People Stop Being Vegan After a Long Time? Redditor Asks

Convenience often trumps conviction and the distinction between being vegan and following a plant-based diet becomes crucial. As u/TheBrosofFist pointed out in a recent Reddit post, being vegan isn’t just about what you eat; it’s an acknowledgment of our ethical responsibility towards animals and the planet.

The narrative shared on Reddit underscores a truth: once you’ve glimpsed the reality of animal suffering, turning a blind eye becomes increasingly difficult. The post describes encountering someone who, despite understanding the cruelty of animal agriculture, reverted to consuming animal products due to a perceived deficiency in iron. This reversal is not just perplexing; it’s disheartening. In part of the post it read, “…it doesn’t make sense, you’re Vegan which means you understand what happens to animals and you don’t wanna contribute to that. Otherwise, I would call it plant-based. I just started a job and we started talking about allergies and then I said I’m allergic to a lot of animal products, she asked “Are you Vegan?” I said “Yeah Vegan for the animals, I developed lots of allergies to animal products after going Vegan, from accidents of consuming animal products. I’m actually quite glad because I would never want to consume an animal and I’m glad that I would know if I was, because I go into anaphylaxis shock from dairy.”

She said, “Oh that’s cool, I was Vegan for 6 years.” BROOOOOO 6 years that’s a long time. Like why would someone ever go back to that wtaf? I asked her why she stopped and she said it’s because her doctor said she needed more iron and that he suggested eggs, fish, and dairy. You can get lots of iron from plant-based food, I told her this and she was like oh wow I didn’t know. It honestly seems like she didn’t care enough, but she said she saw the videos and everything. Just makes me look at her weirdly…”

The exchange highlights a common pitfall, the misconception that animal products are indispensable for health. Contrary to popular belief, ample iron can be sourced from plant-based foods. The decision to abandon veganism, therefore, seems less about necessity and more about succumbing to societal norms or personal convenience. The following comments echo the original poster’s ideas, citing societal pressure, misinformation, and a gradual erosion of conviction over time as contributing factors. Indeed, the allure of conformity and the path of least resistance often lead individuals away from their ethical principles. In a world where “me me me” culture often prevails, embracing veganism is a powerful act of empathy and defiance.

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