Nutrition: Journey of a carnivore to a plant based diet adept

In light of the global health pandemic, many individuals are reevaluating their relationship with food and nutrition. During the COVID-19 outbreaks many doctors have spoken out that in order to keep the body at its healthiest, to boost the immune system, it is worthwhile to consider going vegan—or at least opt for a predominantly plant-based diet. Below is a recount of the personal journey of a FnB professional and founder of vegan/plant based restaurants from being an avid meat eater. Read on:

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The benefits of a plant-based diet are numerous, least of which will be protection against cancer, heart-disease & diabetes. The best body defense is eating immune boosting plant-based foods rich in vitamins A, C, E and Zinc. My advice would be to consider your body as a part of the greater ecosystem, treat it with respect and kindness, nourish your body with a variety of green leafy veggies, colorful fruit and vegetables. Basically consider your plate as a chance to “eat the rainbow”. You deserve to be healthy and to live a long life that is unencumbered by disease and inflammation that could be completely preventable through diet.

“A good diet is the most powerful weapon we have against disease & sickness,” writes Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study. Start where you can! I would like to go one step further, taking the cause to the next level, consider starting your journey by choosing to eat plant-based for 1 meal a day, a movement gaining traction thanks to Amis Cameron, activist author and wife of film director James Cameron.

In Pic: Mapo Tofu with Turmeric & Ginger Brown Rice (Courtesy: Confusion, Plant based kitchen)

My personal experience with choosing a 100% plant-based diet has been one of health and vitality. I no longer struggle with inflammation or gut health issues. I have more energy, I sleep better, and I don’t have a problem maintaining a healthy body weight.

Many people are confused as to where to start when considering a fully plant-based diet because they come at it from a meat-eater mindset, and I will confess that I had that same problem when I first went plant-based overnight. I struggled because I thought eating plants meant salads and soups, smoothies and juices. I was wrong!! So, for starters what I did was educate myself on a plant-based way of eating, not from fad-diet websites on the internet, but from experts in the field of plant-based nutrition.

In Pic: Malay Laksa (Courtesy: Confusion, Plant based kitchen)

What I learned was that so much of how we think we ought to eat is based on propaganda studies funded by agribusiness. You don’t need more protein or calcium from animals, protein and calcium are both abundantly available in plant form. More protein is not better for you, in fact it can be detrimental to your kidneys and more calcium can actually have you leaching calcium from your bones. Studies have shown that the highest incidence of osteoporosis actually occur in the countries known for a high rate of dairy consumption.

So do your research, choose to go plant-based “cold-turkey” or choose to do it in baby steps, one plant-based meal a day, and I guarantee you that the changes you experience will be palpable. Choose whole-foods plant-based as much as you can vs processed foods. You will notice a change in how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally, but more importantly, you will be paying it forward for the environment, saving animals from cruelty, and future generations who will reap the rewards of your conscious decision to decrease the impact of your dietary choices on the environment.

In Pic: Moving Mountains Burger (Courtesy: Confusion, Plant based kitchen)

What remains most important is that you will be investing in your personal health by protecting and boosting your immune system by going plant-based. By side-stepping the rampant use of antibiotics in factory farmed animals, you protect yourself from the possibility of exposure to antibiotic-resistant infections. Nitrate rich foods have also been shown in studies to inhibit the replication cycles of SARS, another corona virus, so it is important that you do your research on what you can do for stay healthy and for the greater good of humanity.

To get in touch with Lisa go to: www.confusion.hk

Address: G/F, 103 Jervois St, Sheung Wan

IG: @Confusion_hk