Since making the decision to eat a plant-based diet, I’ve received 50/50 feedback. As far as I know, I am the only plant-based eater in my family. My parents and in-laws are used to my diet preferences by now, and no one else really notices I’m not eating the meat or dairy options at holiday parties.
There are three main reasons I prefer a plant-based diet.
- My body responds positively to a plant-based diet.
- The food tastes amazing!
- The over-consumption of meat and dairy contributes to our planet’s declining health. Climate change is killing life-giving ecosystems like coral reefs and arctic glaciers.
- Decreasing the demand for meat/dairy would subsequently decrease the supply, and therefore reduce emissions and deforestation caused by livestock agriculture.
- A decrease in demand will also restore balance to the way meat and dairy are produced. In order to meet today’s demand for meat/dairy, the integrity of animal products has been compromised (ie. Stress & GMOs). I’m not saying don’t eat meat – I’m saying eat less.
What I’ve learned over the past few years is the vegan diet conversation is a lot like religion or politics. If someone learns I don’t eat meat, they either purposefully avoid talking about, ask a lot of questions, or want to have a debate.
Common questions & misconceptions about a plant-based diet:
- Where are you getting your protein?
- Vegans are malnourished!
- Plant proteins aren’t sufficient!
- Eating soy causes cancer!
- Don’t you need dairy for calcium?
- Humans have to eat meat!
Humans are omnivores, which means we have characteristics of both carnivores and herbivores. This is one of many survival mechanisms keeping us at the top of the food chain. As omnivores, humans are biologically created to adapt to their environment for survival. This doesn’t mean we need both meat and plants to live, it means we can survive on one or both.
Still, there is a right and wrong way to eat a plant-based diet. Crap food is just as accessible for plant eaters. Aside from getting key nutrients, eating hunger-satisfying foods is very important for a vegan or vegetarian. This means eating the rainbow (plants, not Skittles) and foods high in healthy fats.
I could easily link countless resources where doctors confirm a plant-based diet is healthy and increases longevity. Instead, I’m going to put my parents’ worries to rest with a simple blood test. Like Kim K and her butt x-ray, I’m collaborating with HealthLabs to provide medical proof that we CAN thrive on a vegan diet.
HealthLabs’ Vegan Nutritional Maintenance Panel tests for various deficiencies like:
- B-12
- Calcium
- D-25 Hydroxy (Vitamin D-3)
- Folic Acid
- Iron
- Zinc
HealthLabs‘ offers a variety of tests including comprehensive health, allergy, hormone, thyroid, and fertility, with results in as few as 1-3 days!
Get 25% off HealthLabs tests when you call and mention my name or Freely Mi.
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