The question
"But we need to eat animal products to be healthy, don't we?" If that were true, it would be a strong reason to consume them.
What the experts say
The answer is: it's not necessary. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the largest association of nutrition professionals in the United States, concluded that a well-planned vegan diet is healthy and complete at every stage of life: pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age, and even for athletes.
It can also help prevent and treat some diseases.
"Well-planned"
That's true of any kind of diet. A diet with meat can also be bad if it's poorly planned. With a vegan diet, one important thing to watch is vitamin B12, which should be taken as a supplement or in fortified foods. A dietitian can help put together a balanced meal plan.
Why this matters
If we don't need animal products to be healthy, then consuming them is a choice, not a need. And the pleasure of a flavor doesn't outweigh an animal's life and suffering.
In short
- You don't need to consume animal products to be healthy.
- Major nutrition associations confirm this.
- So consuming animals is a choice, not a need.