Why I Made the Switch to Plant Based Eating
Hey, all! Today I’ll be sharing some of my very personal (and probably semi-lengthy!) journey to health with you. This is a subject that I’m still a little hesitant to write about, both because I feel like there can be a lot of judgment surrounding the way we eat and I have only recently found my footing and become more comfortable sharing.
Let me preface this post with two statements. First of all, the choices I’ve made have been for my own personal health. The benefits I have found may not be true in your experience and that’s okay – no judgment from me whatsoever! I’m sharing what worked for me in hopes that it will help someone else struggling with the same health issues or someone who is on the fence about trying a plant based diet.
I also want to clarify why I am referring to it as “plant based,” rather than “vegan,” when the two terms seem largely interchangeable. First of all, I don’t eat fully vegan. While I abstain from most animal products, I do occasionally consume eggs and honey (apparently that technically makes me an “ovo vegetarian”? Plant based is easier to say and explain). Also, most vegans have chosen to eat this way not as a diet, but also as a lifestyle to advocate against animal cruelty. While I’ve read some shocking things about the meat/dairy industry in my beginning stages of plant based eating (don’t google it if you don’t want know – just sayin’), my primary goal was for health reasons. I don’t see eating animals as being morally wrong. However, I do have some issues with animals’ treatment, both because I believe we are called to be good stewards of the earth and everything in it (that’s a biblical view, not just something I picked up from the Lorax) and also because a lot of the hormones and chemicals pumped into animals are then ingested by us, affecting our bodies. This is not always the case when you are consuming local meat, where you know what the animals have been eating or what chemicals they have been exposed to. However, it is important to do research. Also, I’m fully aware that there are many chemicals that are unavoidable (especially with pollution), but I try my hardest to avoid ingesting chemicals when it is within my power to do so. I leave the rest in God’s hands.
Phew, that was a longer intro that I was anticipating. With that out of the way, let’s dive in …
The beginning of my journey
The questioning of my diet began last summer. I’d been struggling with some health issues for years. The first one was fibromyalgia, a chronic pain and fatigue disorder that I was diagnosed with at the age of 18 (read more here). I already knew from eating clean for a time that sugar was a huge trigger for pain. However, I would still have flare ups and constant fatigue even when monitoring my sugar intake. The second major health issue I was battling was Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (or PCOS). I was diagnosed with this at age 26, after trying for a second baby for over a year (though I suspect I would’ve been diagnosed before Claire, since it took us over a year to conceive her, but I never told my OBGYN we were trying). PCOS is a fertility disorder that totally throws your hormones out of whack, manifesting in infertility, irregular cycles, severe acne and insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes and weight gain. Basically it’s a whole lot of fun. You can read more here if you’re interested. Essentially, the only “treatment” that my doctors tried was putting me on Metformin (a medicine to help with insulin resistance that’s technically for diabetics, which I wasn’t). The hope was that the medication would help me lose weight, which might help my hormones straighten out. Not only did the medication not help with the weight loss, but it caused all kinds of other not so fun side effects, so I stopped taking it.
Essentially, at this point I was struggling every day. Struggling with pain, struggling with exhaustion, struggling to lose weight and struggling emotionally because of all the physical issues I was dealing with. Something had to change. I began praying about the next steps I should take. I felt prompted by the Lord to cut out dairy and meat to see if either of those things were triggers. I started trying this out in July of 2017, but wasn’t completely committed to it. Even with mostly cutting out animal products, I was beginning to lose some weight & have more energy than I’d had in years.
Personal benefits to plant based diet
Fast forward to now. Since the end of October, I have strictly adhered to a plant based diet. In fact, the one time I did deviate was about a month after I finally committed. I made real mac and cheese on Thanksgiving, because it’s Claire’s favorite. I had four bites & my body had extremely adverse reactions to it. I didn’t even realize how much dairy was effecting me until I cut it out! In fact, you can check out this article to see some of the crazy ways dairy can affect your body. Since then, I haven’t had any dairy or meat. Not only have all fibromyalgia symptoms disappeared (except occasion fatigue when I’ve been eating junk food), but my cycles have regulated and I have lost 40 lbs.
Perhaps this is an obvious statement, but the point of switching to a plant based diet was not only to cut out meat and dairy, but also to increase my intake of healthy fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. You can remove meat and dairy from your diet, but you won’t see as many benefits if you just eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and potato chips. Although, it is nice to know that there are still some comfort/junk foods that you can enjoy. My favorite find is a non-dairy ice cream called So Delicious that is made with all organic ingredients and comes in a variety of flavors. Check out this article for a fairly comprehensive list of “accidentally vegan” junk food. Not that Oreos are healthy in any way, but it’s nice to know it’s an option when dairy messes you up.
Another (unrelated to health) benefit that I can’t leave out is that a plant based diet will most likely save you money! Substituting other sources of protein (beans, lentils, quinoa, to name a few) costs substantially less than meat. And, trust me, you really don’t have to worry about getting enough protein. Quinoa is a complete protein with all nine amino acids. Lentils are tasty and can be used to thicken soups and stews (red or yellow lentils) or used to replace ground beef in dishes like tacos, shepherds pie, sloppy joes, etc. (brown or green lentils). And, of course, beans and chickpeas pack a powerful protein punch. There are even lots of vegetables that contain protein (check out this article). It’s a myth that it’s difficult for vegans to get enough protein.
In addition to the personal benefits I have experienced, there are lots of other health benefits for this diet (check out this article to see the science behind the benefits as well). I certainly can’t guarantee that you will reap the same benefits that I have, but I encourage anyone to try it out! You might have no idea how certain foods are affecting your body until you cut them out. So, if you are experiencing health issues and eat a diet high in meat or dairy, try out a plant based diet for a time. I would recommend 3-4 weeks, because it takes some time for traces to work their way out of your system.
2 Comments
Nicku Bruce
Yes! I did the Beachbody Ultimate Reset in January with my husband. I knew dairy and I went great friends, but I was amazed at how the gas was GONE when I eliminated all dairy from my diet. I also didn’t know how bad I felt and how poorly I was sleeping until I did the Reset either! I thought I felt OK before, but now I feel GREAT. We’ve stayed mostly plant based but when a craving hits I’ll do ground turkey, fish or eggs occasionally. We’ve tried to make sure most of our diet comes from the earth! Never thought I’d be a crazy vegan lady, LOL! But praise God my eyes have been opened and it feels good! The Reset itself was interesting. Love/Hate. HIGHLY recommend doing it with a spouse or partner that will keep you accountable. I would have probably quit otherwise. There are some rough days through the process as your body detoxes from the poison foods we love 😉
admin
Detoxing is awesome for your body, but it’s always rough at first. Plant based eating always gives me so much energy and makes my body feel great. I haven’t done the Ultimate Reset, mostly because Shakeology makes me sick. I love Beachbody’s workouts though!