Cambridge University archaeologist PÃ­a Spry-MarquÃ©s told the Independent how she decided to go vegan after learning about the pork industry. Like so many of us, Dr. Spry-MarquÃ©s grew up eating meat. But while conducting research for Pig/Pork: Archaeology, Zoology, Edibility, a book she intended to fill with pork recipes, she learned about the horrific cruelties inflicted on pigs at factory farms:

"My son was born three years ago and I was nursing him. People looked at me funny for breastfeeding my child, and yet it was fine to drink lattes with cow’s milk, or eat chocolate spread. I started thinking about how it’s weird to drink cow’s milk. I was writing the book and researching factory farming and pigs nursing piglets and it was all too much. I decided that I would go vegan the next day. And that was it."

She observes how “disengaged” we are when it comes to suffering and death of farmed animals and how we’re capable of loving some animals and eating others. “We’re conditioned by an invisible belief system that encourages us to eat animals which is shared by all meat-eating cultures.”

Dr. Spry-MarquÃ©s asserts that eating meat isn't something humans inherently do, and she couldn’t be more right. Eating meat, dairy and eggs isn’t natural or necessary. But by doing so we contribute to the suffering of countless animals.

Pigs, cows, chickens, fish, and other animals raised and killed for food suffer immensely at factory farms. Even worse, laws that protect dogs and cats often exclude farmed animals. As a result, blatant abuse is now standard practice.

Watch this video and see for yourself:

If you’re upset by the truth, consider joining the millions of people who have made the decision to switch to a compassionate diet by leaving animal products off your plate. One person every six seconds vows to ditch meat, dairy and eggs.