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Originally Posted by Johnnyzen
Well, I agree third world countries have a mostly plant diet, but vegan?
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Maybe I am wrong to use this term -- like I said, pure veganism in the modern, western sense is probably rare -- People eat what they can and need to survive. But many come really close, or have at some time in history. Providing a good example are many groups of the indigenous people of Mexico and South America. Dietary staples were and in some cases remain, corn, beans and vegetables. In parts of Japan and China, & other Asian countries, a diet of rice, beans and tofu sufficed. In Europe, at one time, many subsisted on oat and barley porridges, greens, roots and beans.
The peasants, throughout history, have typically had the healthiest diets because animal products and refined grain were so expensive. (And hence, so desirable... and then comes mass production to bring the food of the wealthy to the "impoverished" masses.) Among agriculturalists, I think a diet close to veganism was pretty common. Although seafood probably pretty common along the coasts. Among pastoralists, of course, you'll see milk, yoghurt and butter; among hunters, meat. With trade between the groups, things get mixed up. Vast grayscale, anyone? I guess it may seem I have deflated my claim. But the point I'm making, I suppose, is that more traditional cultures are a lot closer to the macrobiotic and vegan ideals that any modern society -- and the poorer a people, the greater the need for cheap, nutritiously complete food. Hence, "veganism" or something close to it is quite possible in the third world; if we don't fret about perfection and purity, it is already being "practiced" among many who can't afford otherwise.
The small amount of animal products that is consumed in traditional cultures is insignificant, in my opinion. The most important thing is to keep Western crap and excess from doing its damage and reintroduce people to their native grains.
Anyway, I'm curious about traditional diets now. Gonna do some research, and report back.