The Power of a Plant-Based Lifestyle: My Journey to Radiant Health

When people learn that I live a plant-based lifestyle, one of the first questions they ask is, “Where do you get your protein?!” Their concern is often accompanied by a well-meaning suggestion: “You need to eat more protein…” Early in my journey, this question made me feel awkward, threatened, and insecure about my lifestyle choice.

My Transformation Journey

At the beginning of my plant-based journey, these questions and comments made me doubt my decisions. I found myself fumbling for answers, feeling unsure and criticized. However, as I delved deeper into the world of plant-based nutrition, I discovered deeper truths and myths about protein. While doctors and experts told me that I needed to eat a high-fat, high-protein animal-based diet to support my reproductive health, that only made me sicker.  My reproductive and fertility health issues worsened. The truth is, fat and protein are overemphasized, there is propaganda behind their promotion. Ironically, I was warned against veganism as there were claims that it causes infertility, yet it was a vital part of how I healed and reclaimed my reproductive health and fertility (more on that in another newsletter). 

Finding Confidence and Clarity

As I educated myself, I realized that plant-based foods are richest in the bioavailable health-promoting vitamins, minerals, proteins, and nutrients our bodies need to thrive. Leafy greens, veggies, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds provide ample protein, and these sources are complemented by a variety of other essential health promoting nutrients. My health, fitness, energy levels, and overall well-being have flourished on a plant-based diet, proving that a balanced plant-based lifestyle can offer all the nutrients required for radiant health. I've never been stronger nor healthier. 

Breaking the Myths

We’ve been conditioned to focus heavily on protein, becoming overly concerned with getting “enough” while missing out on critical nutrients needed for health and building muscle. The muscle we build when consuming a high animal protein diet is not lean muscle, rather it has a layer of fat and fluid around it (I expound on this concept in my courses “The Foundations of Nutrition” and “The Foundations of Movement”). We've been told that “carbs are bad,” leading us to avoid fruits and vegetables without recognizing the distinguishing nutritional differences between processed carbs and clean carbohydrates. The misinformation and misunderstanding leads to the promotion of health hindering trends that lead us astray and create confusion. The truth is the body requires an abundance of critical clean carbohydrates (fruits and vegetables), as glucose is the body’s primary energy source. AND it is actually the glucose from these plant-based fruits and vegetables that build the glycogen stores in the body, which build lean muscle.

We've been led to believe that animal protein is superior to plant-based protein, yet where do the animals we consume get their protein? You guessed it, plants! Animal proteins are not only high in fat, they are adrenalized foods. Regardless of the way the animal was slaughtered, they possess a stress reflex that when slaughtered releases an incredible amount of adrenaline into their bodies, saturating the muscles and bone marrow. This means the animal protein that humans consume contains concentrations of adrenaline that then flood our bodies with adrenaline, spurring an adrenaline reaction in our bodies that has lasting effects, which compound over time. 

Myth: Not Enough Protein

One common myth is that those who live a plant-based lifestyle don't get ‘enough’ protein. This is simply untrue. The largest land mammals, elephants, thrive on plant-based diets—proving that plants provide sufficient protein for even the strongest creatures on Earth. Plant based foods contain amino acids, the bioavailable building blocks of protein, which our bodies use to create the protein the body actually needs.

My Plant-Powered Lifestyle

Embracing a plant-based lifestyle has not only transformed my health but also shifted my perspective on nutrition and wellness. I now understand that the foods we eat impact all aspects of our wellness physical, energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The food we eat has the ability to heal or harm us, knowing which foods are health-promoting and which are health-hindering is a foundational step of healing and creating radiant health. 

By sharing my experience, I hope to inspire you to ask empowering questions and experience the incredible benefits of incorporating more whole plant-based foods into your diet. To clarify, I am not saying you have to embrace and live a purely plant-based lifestyle, rather there is a level of health ready to be unlocked within you through eating more plant-based foods. 
 

Your Life is Your Creation.
The beauty of the true word diet, which stems from the Latin word “diaeta," means way of life. I am passionate about helping you find and design a way of life that aligns with your values, desires, and goals while also allowing you to heal, flourish, and create radiant health. This is about you becoming the master architect of your wellness and designer of your lifestyle. Education + Experimentation are part of the art of designing an aligned lifestyle. You hold the power. You decide. 

Thank you for being part of this journey with me! Your presence and support mean the world to me.