If you’ve seen the 2017 documentary “What the Health,” and have been keeping up with various nutritional news pieces, you have already been exposed the science and data that reveals the detrimental effects the meat/animal product industry continues to have on animals, the environment, and, of course, health. A quick disclaimer: I write this not with the intent of converting anyone to veganism, but to simply outline the health benefits I have personally seen over my years of being vegan, and my journey in adopting the diet.
To begin with simple facts, plant-based diets consist of foods high in vitamins, minerals, protein, iron, calcium, fiber, antioxidants, and more, so the health benefits are essentially inevitable. Not only this, but plant-based sources are packed with nutrients and tend to have low amounts of saturated fat. These factors help to reduce health issues such as heart disease, high blood sugar and diabetes, cancers, high cholesterol, and obesity. Not to mention, the abundance of nutrients one consumes on a plant-based diet can lead to an increase in energy, clearer skin, and more. Vegan diets include foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, tofu, and tempeh.
I was a vegetarian for decades before becoming vegan, just because I loved that style of eating. Over time, I transitioned from eating all meat, to just chicken, to just fish, to being a vegetarian. When I was a vegetarian, I gradually ate less cheese, but Greek yogurt was a huge part of my diet, as protein was and still is vital in my athletic endeavors. However, the idea of veganism would come into my world here and there, as different people would mention it or I’d hear various facts about it, so this got me thinking more about taking on the diet. The mother of one of my students was a presenter at a vegan challenge called PAN (Peace Advocacy Network) in Philadelphia, so I decided to ask her a bit about a vegan diet– at this point I was just gathering information. She explained that PAN had a month-long vegan challenge, with a vegan mentor, vegan buffets, seminars, and more, to give people an idea of what it takes to eat a vegan diet. I love to challenge myself and experience everything I can when it pertains to my interests, and I take challenges very seriously, so I told her to count me in!
I started the challenge, and right away I could see that the foods offered at the buffet were perfect for someone who was transitioning from an all meat diet to a vegan diet: it was cheesesteaks, cheeseburgers, and really great comfort food, but definitely not food I’d eat on a daily basis. Still, I was eager to take on the challenge, and the buffet ended up being my “cheat” meal each week. Regardless, PAN really did educate us from week to week about different aspects of veganism and what it’s all about. They came from more of an animal rights perspective, which is my slant indirectly, but their presentations were still very captivating. But don’t get me wrong, it was difficult at first — I had this resistance about eliminating things like Greek yogurt, half-and-half, and honey. However, I managed, and I really loved it! And this all started as an experiment to see how my mind and body would respond. My joints felt open and more mobile, and felt that inflammation really lessened. Dairy is a major source of inflammation, which I hadn’t even realized before having the vegan diet as a “backdrop,” of sorts. It came down to this: If any practice makes my body feel better, then I’m all about it. I’m motivated by how I feel, and when I feel healthy, I feel good, so I can do anything if it makes me feel better and I know it’s really good for me. So I just stuck with the vegan diet! I found my food alternatives: amazing Califia Farms coffee creamer, and I made a pea protein and cacao powder mixture into a yogurt substitute. Now I don’t even really care about cheese and yogurt, or miss them at all. Balance is very important for me, however, and I’m not as rigid as some other vegans, as I still eat honey and will wear leather. Overall, I feel lighter mentally and physically after becoming vegan.
Some foods I always have on hand include tofu, pea protein, grapes and cherries or seasonal fruit, spinach, almond milk, soy milk, sweet potatoes, nuts and seeds, and more. However, an automatic switch to a vegan diet may be difficult for some people, and the last thing you want is for this new diet to become a burden. In addition, once adopting a plant-based diet, it is so important to make sure you are getting a sufficient amount of vitamin B-12, iron, vitamin D, calcium, and calories in general. I encourage you to try out a vegan diet, if only for a day, and see what you think of it!
Sources:
https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/health
https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/why-go-vegan
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vegan-diet-benefits#section5