Why I gave up veganism

In the latest round of environmental virtue-signalling, Boris Johnson has decided to bring forward the date by which he wishes to see a significant reduction in carbon emissions. By 2035, he wants the UK to cut emissions by 78 per cent compared with 1990 levels. Although the plan applies to abstract collectivist entities such as businesses, aviation and households, individuals have also been encouraged to cut their own carbon emissions.

Reaching this ambitious target would mean a drastic reduction in our consumption of meat and dairy. According to an Oxford University study – published in Climatic Change –  carnivores contribute as much as two and a half times as many dietary greenhouse-gas emissions per day as vegans.

Should rhetoric become a reality, there’s the possibility that veganism will become an option for many people. So should you become vegan? As someone who was one for twelve years, I would like to present to you, dear reader, my cautionary tale.

What follows is not meant to be a deep philosophical rumination upon the tenets of animal rights . It is simply a brief description of my time as a vegan, warts and all.

Throughout my formative years, I was heavily involved in the hardcore punk scene. I was putting on gigs and writing fanzines about the latest bands and records. When we put bands on from out of town, many of them would stay at my flat. And it was my job to feed them.

To my surprise, many of them were vegan. At this juncture, I knew little about vegans. All the stories I had heard implied they were inoffensive, mildly eccentric cranks – the bane of countless dinner parties. You know, the sort of person that turns up unannounced – sending the host apoplectic with rage as they frantically search the salad drawer for something to put on a plate.

I couldn’t help but notice how slender they all were. I was hideously overweight – tipping the scales at an enormous 18 stone. Rather than philosophical or ethical considerations, my rationale was health; I wanted to lose weight. So after a few discussions, myself and a few friends decided to go vegan.

Giving up cheese was the hardest part, my new vegan friends told me that all the dairy-free alternatives tasted like you were eating compressed sand. Meat turned out to be less of a problem. After a trial year as a vegetarian, I made the jump to a full-blown vegan lifestyle – out went all leather products and the cupboards were emptied of animal products.

At this point in time, veganism was barely a blip on the cultural landscape. The only time I heard it referenced was when Greenpeace were protesting against plans for a new runway. Except for a small handful of eco-warriors and Grateful Dead fans, the diet was relatively obscure and unknown. With market forces rigorously following the iron law of supply and demand – high prices being a signal of scarcity – veganism seemed a lifestyle more suited to the affluent middle classes.

One thing the diet taught me was self-sufficiency; cooking for yourself from scratch was new to me. So what began as a steady stream of tomato sauce sandwiches and dark chocolate hobnobs quickly developed into a sensible diet of lentils, broccoli, spinach and a vast array of nuts and seeds.

However, I couldn’t help but notice how quickly some of my new friends politicised what was essentially a dietary decision. Many started wearing T-shirts emblazoned with vegan slogans and started to act like members of a self-righteous moral militia. Some intentionally picked on drunk revellers – knocking kebabs out of their hands as they were condemned for the crime of eating flesh. Some smashed windows and daubed numerous eateries with “meat is murder” stickers. Others took to targeting McDonald’s – that bastion of left-wing hatred.

I thought my new diet was making me healthy, but little did I know, I was setting myself up for a monumental fall. Years without essential fatty acids, minerals and nutrients started to take their toll. I began to feel dizzy every time I stood up. I initially dismissed it as a consequence of long working hours, then I started to develop heavy black rings around my eyes like I’d done ten rounds with Mike Tyson.

After a visit to my GP I was diagnosed as anaemic. As for the weight loss? I had achieved my goal but to great detriment to my health. After ten years, I had lost six stone. But the joy of losing weight was short-lived as it masked a more serious problem. No matter how hard I tried, I could no longer gain weight; it kept coming off. A lack of fibre and little protein meant I was unable to satiate my appetite. 

The years I had spent committed to eschewing meat and dairy meant I missed out on zinc, iron, B12 and omega 3 and 6. I began to take supplements when it dawned on me that this was not a natural diet. All of these vitamins and nutrients were available from a healthy balanced diet – allowing you to maximise your ability to extract everything your body desperately needs. So after much deliberation, after twelve years, I slowly switched back to meat and dairy.

Since then, I have stayed at roughly the same weight. I still enjoy meat-free Monday, but I also welcome taco Tuesday and fish Friday with alacrity. But I didn’t escape pain-free. A few years ago, I found myself in the hospital lying under an MRI scanner due to a suspected brain tumour. A follow-up scan revealed I was suffering from seriously depleted bone density. When I confessed to the consultant that I was once vegan, he concluded it was more than likely down to a chronic lack of calcium. I now have early on-set osteoporosis.

Although it was not suitable for me, I don’t want to put anyone off. Since I adopted the diet, a lot has changed. There’s now an abundance of research and literature allowing you to make an informed decision.

Veganism is still gaining popularity too. The Vegan Society reports that 600,000 people in Great Britain have taken up the diet. This growing ethical army now wields serious consumer clout. According to research estimates, the global vegan food market will be worth $24.3 billion by 2026.

Rising demand mixed with innovation and scientific ingenuity means specialist meat-free food has lowered in price whilst significantly gaining quality. In recent years, it was found that a by-product from bananas can replicate with alarming accuracy the taste and texture of fish. Gone are the days of rubber bricks masquerading as cheese.

Before you undertake such a profound change to your diet, I recommend seeking advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Get regular blood tests to check your iron and calcium levels, and by all means, take supplements if you’re low.

At a time when politicians are weaponising obesity to justify more state intervention into our lives, making the switch to a vegan diet puts you, the individual, in complete control. But if it doesn’t work out, don’t sacrifice your health. No diet is worth that.