Resolved: A vegan diet is superior to low carbohydrate diets.

IntroductionHello people of DDO! In this debate I will argue in favor of veganism over low carb diets (hereafter LC). My opponent acknowledges the possibility of a vegan diet and a low carb diet to not exclude eachother. However, from his clarifications and his comment I take his defended LC's to include animal products in some form and to some degree. Hence I will limit myself to ethical arguments as he agreed to on my query.Veganism:"A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food[...]. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."(1)Low Carbohydrate Diet(s):"The low carb, real food based diet involves eating natural, unprocessed foods with a low carbohydrate content." (2)I suppose that Con would agree to this definition, although it is intended for the reader anyway.What Does "Equality" Mean?One of the most influential words of the last decades is "equality". But what does this word actually mean?Is it perhaps an assertion of fact about people? Surely not. Every person we meet in our daily lifes is distinct from the next in their physical abilities, mental abilities, physique, personality and many other things.Is it a guideline for treating everyone exactly the same? Surely not. Neither does an adult want to be treated as a child nor is it sensible to treat the child like an adult.But what could it possibly be? The only sensible use of "equality" is as a principle to take into consideration everyone's interests equally. On this ground we can easily reject sexism and racism, even in the unlikely case of there being actual differences between sexes or "races" a sexist or a racist could cling to in defending his irrational view.Now, if we actually believe in equality and we do not want to be hypocrites, then we cannot dismiss a beings interests on the basis of sex, race...or species. (3)Killing AnimalsI don't think anyone would seriously deny the sentience of non-human animals or the interest of sentient beings to not feel pain. However some might content that it is perhaps permissible to kill them painlessly. So let's assume the possibility of rearing and killing non-human animals without any pain or stress (whether or not farms would be able to do this to a significant degree is another debate). Would that not be acceptable? Let me ask you this: would it be ok for us to painlessly rear and slaughter humans? I don't think anyone in their right mind would agree to this, but what could possibly make this difference? Genetics is already out after our discussion on equality.It might be argued that animals are not capable to comprehend their pain or the life they will loose while humans are. However it might be true that you, reading this, are this comprehensive as opposed to non-human animals (whether this is unconditionally true is disputable, but also not relevant for my argument), but this does not apply to all humans. Severely mentally handicapped people, very young babies, patients in a permanent coma and those who lost huge parts of their cognitive functions due to accidents all lack this ability, would it be permissible to rear and eat them? I don't think so either.I can find no other criteria that would make it permissible to (painlessly) kill non-human animals while keeping it reprehensible to do it to humans and as such I close my discussion.ConclusionIn this first round I have demonstrated the absurdities the consumption of non-human animals pose to the meat-eater and I await my opponents opening arguments.Sources(1) https://www.vegansociety.com...(2) http://authoritynutrition.com...low carbohydrate diets(3) Ideas taken from Peter Singer, Practical Ethics