Since I just started this thing, I thought it would be good to share some basic reasons and resources about where I am where I am. No preaching, just me here.
First off, I grew up eating meat. I grew up overweight (and still struggle with weight). I grew up with family who raised livestock. So, there's no vegan hippy in me that I got from anywhere other than my own experiences and observations. You have to do what works for you. Plant-based lifestyle seems to work best for me. I'm not perfect at it, I struggle. Hey, I live in the Midwest and I from the South. That can be hard, and requires lots of preparation before you head out in the big world. That's sort of a keystone of this lifestyle - be prepared for what you're going to eat and questions, lots of questions.
I guess there are 2 main reasons people go plant-based. (Well probably 3 or more, but 2 main ones.)
- Health
- Animals
- Environment* (this one is less common, but it does have it's merits, see here).
Health
Health is one of the main reasons I got into this lifestyle (but not the reason I stick with it). It's an issue I have always struggled with. I have a clear family history of cardiovascular issues and obesity. So, when I see what this lifestyle has done for others, I'm inspired (and I don't get moved by sweeping, emotional stories - just the facts please). But in my own experience, I feel way better! I've lost some weight, and I just feel less 'blah'. That's the technical term, right? Anyway, this is still a journey for me, but I always feel better and do better when I eat this way. The resources below are a nice primer. Probably what got me started was Dr. John McDougall, then eventually reinforced by Forks over Knives, so both of those come highly recommended!
- People to follow
- Dr. McDougall
- Dr. Greger and Nutritionfacts.org
- Dr. Esselstyn (Cleveland Clinic)
- Julieanna Hever, the Plant Based Dietitician
- Dr. Barnard and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
- Rich Roll, Ultra-marathon runner, author and he has a great podcast!
- Happy Herbivore and her great recipes and meal plans!
- Movies to watch
- Books to read
- The Starch Solution
- The China Study
- Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes without Drugs
- Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure
- YouTube Channels
And here are some YouTube videos to start with (there are a ton of resources on YouTube):
Dr. McDougall
Dr. Barnard
Dr. Esselstyn
Dr. Greger
Dr. McDougall
Dr. Barnard
Dr. Esselstyn
Dr. Greger
I hope this gives you a primer of my resources for my lifestyle changes. I'll discuss animal and environmental issues in a later post.
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