How vegan diets help with your health

Story of two 60-year-old vegetarians who have not been to hospital for decades Many people believe it is impossible to stay all year round without falling sick in any way. Some others still believe that humans cannot abstain from eating animal products and seafoods. However, there is an increasing number of  Nigerians who are taking […]

• Story of two 60-year-old vegetarians who have not been to hospital for decades

Many people believe it is impossible to stay all year round without falling sick in any way. Some others still believe that humans cannot abstain from eating animal products and seafoods.

However, there is an increasing number of  Nigerians who are taking to veganism, and staying away from unhealthy food habits. Veganism is a  plant-based diet or a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products and all other animal-derived ingredients.

Two individuals both from Delta State, Nigeria, have confirmed that they have never been diagnosed of any kind of ailment or slept on a hospital bed in the last 30 years.

Ambassador Parkson Brownson Edjeketa spent a number of years in Norway but now lives in Calabar. He is currently the director of a private museum called The Royal Museum, which custodies rare religious and ancient artefacts. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments is reported to be in the process of certificating it.

The other is Bishop Raymond Opia, a scholar, teacher and researcher.  He once worked with the Nigerian Air Force in Makurdi as a civilian staff.  He now lives and works in London.

Opia and Edejeketa are in their 60s. They had refrained from eating animal products, seafoods, milk, eggs, fish and fowls since they were in their 30s.

Both relish fruits to no end. They eat plantain, banana and other crops as well as vegetables. Both are teetotallers, having not also touched any kind of drink, whether those called soft drinks, wine or beer, although both hail from Delta State where almost everyone relishes the local gin called ‘kaikai’, or ‘Sapele water’.

They are members of a group called International Vegetarians Fellowship, which propagates the ideals of vegetarianism and veganistic lifestyle. It has headquarters in Calabar and is not exclusively to male members. It has a growing membership of nearly 200 who are said to be ardent adherents to the practices of vegetarianism.

Parkson and Opia spoke to our reporter in Calabar recently.

“Vegetarianism keeps the body naturally strong and the antibodies are always alive,” Opia who is also an animal rights campaigner said.

He said: “Look at the vegetarian animals like cattle and horse; and take a look at lion and tiger, the size and bones of the former are bigger and healthier. I won staff of the year last year with cash award because I did not report sick, did not come late and never took permission to absent myself.

“Vegetarians have the best dreams which indeed are clear revelations. Before I became a vegan I used to have malaria every three months. However, 35 years on I don’t know about malaria, flu, cough and or even headache even though I do a 12 hour job.

“Cattles are recycled vegetables. They eat only vegetables and people jump on the recycled one that is now dead animal or rather sorry meat. I still feel that my heart is that of a 20 year old when I run.”

Opia said vegetarianism gives healthy lifestyle, good and healthy kidney, liver and heart, adding, “For over 30 years, I have not been sick. There has not been any ailment that has attacked me.  Eating mostly cultivated crops and vegetables make me stay away from doctors. They make me stronger and younger than my age.”

Relating his own experience as an ardent vegetarian and one that has totally abstained from drinks, Edjeketa said,  “I cannot remember if I have swallowed a pill in the last many decades. I have no reason to do so. I get all I want for healthy living from fruits and vegetables  and have relied on them for a  number of decades.

“Once my plane had a stopover in a particular western country and ‘normal’ foods were scarce except vegetarian diets. I feel I have lot of strength. If you research, you see that vegetarians live longer and are healthy throughout. I encourage the willing ones to take to this lifestyle.

“Not that I don’t fall  ill occasionally but I don’t take drugs for any treatment whatsoever because my immune system is strong and capable of taking adequate care of any sickness as a result of my plant-based diet. My food is my medicine and my medicine is my food.”

Edjeketa said he authored a book titled ‘Vegetarian Reward’ that was launched in  Switzerland by the International Vegetarian Union (IVU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria asked the then Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland to represent the country during the event. The book was adjudged by expert nutritionists and dietitians as the best book out of Africa on vegetarianism.

Nsikak Eyo-Efen, a clergywoman in her 40s said she is also a vegetarian and has been living healthy over the years.

Another vegetarian from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who lives in Calabar, Madam Harriet Salumu Muza  lives  mostly on fruits. She, like Opia and Edjeketa, agrees that vegan diets enable her to be healthy and deeply spiritual.

A nutritionist, Mrs Eyoanwan Otong, said many people are now acknowledging the benefits nature has embedded in fruits, crops and vegetables.

In a health talk broadcast over a satellite cable television and monitored in Calabar, Otong encouraged many more people to abstain from animal products and go for natural foods.

“I speak as a vegetarian myself. Those who take to eating much vegetables and fruits hardly fall ill, and so do not spend on medication. This is because they do not consume foreign agents contained in animal products.

“Fruits and vegetables have medicinal properties which help fortify human beings,”  said Otong who is also a former senior midwife at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.