Discussion: You are what you eat!
By: Chiara Noble
November 4, 2022
We observe World Vegan Month in November. So, what exactly defines a vegan? Veganism is a way of life that excludes all forms of cruelty to animals for food, products, or any other purpose. There are many ways to embrace the vegan lifestyle, but the underlying “rule” is to eat a plant-based diet.
Vegans do more than just avoiding meat; they also avoid fish, dairy, eggs, and honey, as well as products like leather or fur. You might think, “So, what can they eat?” Surprisingly, there are thousands of vegan recipes out there that are delicious and exceptionally nutritious.
I supposed I should have prefaced this by saying that I am not a vegan, however I enjoy lots of vegan dishes. There are many benefits to incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet. I want to share of few of them you probably didn’t realize.
Improved digestion:
Fiber is crucial to support the healthy functioning of your digestive tract. Moving to a vegan diet and including plenty of whole plant foods will increase your intake of fiber.
You can eat more:
Whole plant foods are generally lower in energy per weight compared to animal products and processed foods.
Reduced risk of chronic disease:
In areas of the world where populations live healthy lifestyles, with predominantly plant-based diets. People live healthy and active lifestyles well into their 90s and 100s, with these diseases being almost unheard of.
Better mental health:
Research has shown us that our diet plays a crucial role in our mental health. In the study, 32% of participants diagnosed with depression were no longer considered depressed after 12 weeks consuming more plant foods.
You could save money:
There is a misconception that eating a vegan diet is more expensive. Stocking up on whole plant foods like potatoes, beans, rice, bananas and oats, as well as frozen fruits and vegetables, is a great way to save the pennies.
Your sleep could improve
Switching to a plant predominant diet is a way to increase your fiber intake and reduce your saturated fat. Research has found that this could also be key in supporting a deeper and restorative night’s sleep.
I have always been the type of person to try “almost anything” once. Some of you who are reading this will refuse to try anything vegan. I will say this. You never know if you will enjoy something until you try it. And get this! For those who like sweets, google vegan dessert recipes. To get you started here are a few that I find enjoyable. Vegan Chocolate Cake, Vegan Brownies, and Vegan Pancakes. But on a more serious note, be mindful that, just like a regular diet, anything can turn from good to bad when overdone.
We should also be careful with processed and frozen vegan meals. The sodium content can be extremely high. While I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or anything else of the sort, I shared this article this month because I care about US. As a people! That includes YOU.
Anything that we can do to protect our temple, I consider being important. Believe it or not, every little bit counts. We think that we have to do something drastic or extreme and even take shortcuts to be well. But it’s easier than you think. It requires effort, discipline, and planning, but it can be done. Good luck and happy (healthy) eating!
Thank you for joining me for Friday at Sundown. Remember… Just Breathe!
The video below I believe along with this week Discussion can be life changing... We go to the altar for prayer for healing of illnesses we will continue to produce. Please share this Discussion with family and friends.
(73) I Love Nutritional Science: Dr. Joel Fuhrman at TEDxCharlottesville 2013 - YouTube
(Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the motivational speech in this video)
About the Writer:
Chiara A. Noble: Is a visionary, a woman of many talents who wears many hats. She is an ordained minister, wife, mother, daughter, sister. A published author and the co-host of Victory Talk, a virtual talk show centered around helping people to grow, speak and live a victorious life. She is a certified mental health advocate and life coach. She has faced many trials/tribulations but lives by the saying “storms make trees take deeper roots.”
Contact: https://Vlfministrys.org
Email: coachkeyalicia@gmail.com
Facebook: Key Alicia
Instagram: Key_alicia_
Resources:
Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)
Mental Health Month | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Home | MentalHealth.gov
NIMH » Home (nih.gov)