FIFTY YEARS ON...

Fifty years ago, a small number of vegetarians decided to go all the way in avoiding animal products and created the word 'vegan' - a shortened form of the word 'vegetarian'. They felt that what was morally right would also prove physically correct. Fifty years on, the point is proved. The existence of a core of vegans has provided samples for statistical research, that has proved that humans can survive on a vegan diet and have even been found to be healthier.

It is now possible to suggest that the vegan diet is the one most suited to humans and that, though humans can survive on an animal product based diet, the latter is more difficult to digest and can lead to many diseases.

Including an adequate quantity of fruit and vegetables in your diet is now accepted as essential for fitness and to avoid disease. Eating plenty of pulses and grains is recommended as the best way to build fitness for athletes. The role of meat in the diet is gradually being played down. Vegan foods are gaining importance with nutritionists, although few would put it that way.

The original vegans probably never considered that the vegan diet was also a solution to environmental problems, although they no doubt accepted it as more economical. Today, environmental problems are looming in a way that was not imagined 50 years ago. They have become of great concern to thinking teenagers who realise they will have to bear the consequences of the greed and wastefulness of previous generations, who have been too careless of the consequences of their lifestyles. The original vegans just thought that a caring lifestyle had to be the correct one and they were proved right. As for the usual taunt that people who worry about animal rights should first be concerned with human rights, this was well answered by Brigitte Bardot, who has spoken and acted passionately for animal rights, "We have only one heart - we either care or we don't care". Many vegans are deeply involved in human rights causes. Vegans are people who care and have proved that caring is the right approach to life. The next 50 years should be interesting!...

Related Vegan Views articles...
Cross-reference: History