I became vegetarian at 19 as I believed that was the kindest way to live my life.  For years I was the only vegetarian I knew.  Gradually I met more vegetarians but mostly they were vegetarian because of religion or taste.  I had never met any vegans.

Just over a year ago I happened onto a picture of male chicks being ground up alive in the egg industry.  It caused me to spend an evening researching both this and the dairy industry and I was disgusted that I had believed the lies about happy hens and happy cows.

I went to sleep that night and woke up a vegan.  I originally decided to finish the vegetarian foods in my freezer and then restock.  However, the thought of eating them just disgusted me and I ended up throwing them all out.

Within a matter of weeks after becoming a vegan I was surprised to see how my health benefited.  I had suffered with psoriatic and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, IBS, constant sniffles and recurrent eye infections.  I always felt tired and had a tummy that would no shift no matter how much dieting I did.  I was taking 17 strong tablets a day and using steroid creams for my skin.  Being vegan cured all my health problems.  I now take no medication, my walking sticks and crutches are put away, I sleep much better but need less of it and feel more refreshed.  My tummy has gone and I feel like I can eat anything I want and no longer put on weight.  I haven’t had a sniffle in over a year and no ee infections at all.  My eyesight has also improved.

This is a change that is not only ethical for the animals and the planet but also benefited me enormously, a very very nice surprise indeed.