You Are What You Eat!
You’ve heard the expression that Human Beings are what they eat. It’s true. In any given day, a Human Being is replacing 40-50 billion (yep, with a B) cells per day. The entire Human body is completely replaced every 7-10 years, so something like 10-12 times in a lifetime. The raw material for all of these cells comes from what we eat, and drink and the air we breathe. Think about this the next time you are tempted by that bag of chips or processed meat hot dog! According to the latest studies, nothing has a greater impact on health and well being than our diet. Even genetics are now believed to be less important that what we put into our bodies.
My Journey to Veganism
The first major change in my life, that developed from my regular practice of yoga, was a gradual evolution in my diet from carnivore to plant-based and mostly vegan. It started in mid-2011, about seven or eight months into my yoga practice. If you had told me at the time that I would one day find the dish you see in this post, tofu curry with rice and vegetables, my favorite meal I would have said you were nuts. This dish is in fact so good my kids call it “The Truth”. In so many ways it is the truth of my diet and my belief in the importance of a plant based diet to both health and happiness.
My journey to fully plant-based eating was indeed a very gradual one. Born in Wyoming and raised by a mother who grew up on a cattle and sheep ranch and a father who’s father bought and sold meat for Armour Meat Company, suffice it to say that meat was part of almost every meal for the first 57 years of my life! But these yogis whom I had come to know kept sharing their commitment to plant based eating, for health of themselves and the planet as well as for compassion for animals. Meanwhile, I continued to be concerned about the heart disease in my family lineage and was frustrated by several prescription medicines I needed daily to control cholesterol and heartburn.
First, I gave up red meat. I quickly felt better and my heartburn diminished. A few months later, I gave up chicken. For the next year or so I ate fish and plants. I was a so called pescatarian! I never really missed the red meat nor the chicken so this diet felt right for me. My blood work showed major improvement in cholesterol and, despite my Doctor’s advice to the contrary, I stopped taking all my prescription meds.
I was a happy pescatarian for a year or more and then I read one of the most impactful books of my life. The China Study by T. Colin Campbell shifted my entire view of nutrition and health. This is real science that proves the negative impact of animal proteins on our Human Being. I read the book several times. I sent copies to family and friends. I even took the online course at Cornell University that provided an even deeper understanding of the science.
Once I had finished this book, I converted to a full vegan diet and I have not looked back!
Compassion Rules!
If you have been following this blog or read the past few postings, you will know that my firm belief is that the place of happiness for us is to live more as our Soul Being and less as our Human Being. To do this we must align our emotions, thoughts, words and actions with our Soul. This means to align with pure, unconditional, limitless and eternal love. This means to always lead with love and compassion in everything we feel, think, say and do. It is not possible for us to consume a diet that exploits animals, in the most explicit and brutal way, and be fully aligned with the essence of our Soul. A plant-based diet, and especially a vegan diet, demonstrates true love and compassion for:
Ourselves as this diet is scientifically proven to be healthier for our body, the “vehicle” for our Soul. This is the best raw material for the billions of cells you build every day.
The Earth itself as there is scientific proof that this diet has a much smaller carbon footprint than a diet that includes animal flesh.
The animals themselves who are beings with Souls too! It doesn’t take a scientist to know that a cow or pig or chicken or any animal would rather live a full, safe and free life than be abused and slaughtered. I have no doubt that when we eat animal flesh we consume some of the fear-energy the animal experienced prior to its death.
Living the Vegan Life
I’ll cover this in more detail in a future post, but it is easier to live a vegan lifestyle than you might imagine. Yes, you will endure some silly questions like, “how do you get enough protein”? Plants actually have plenty of protein and, anyway, we need less than what we have been programmed to believe. Food options are plentiful, even in non-vegetarian or vegan restaurants. And, vegan food options are exploding in variety, convenience and availability as the trend away from meat picks up steam. The only downside is the need to take some vitamin supplements, notably B-12, to ensure you are getting all of the nutrients needed for optimal health.
The biggest benefit for me is to know that I’m consuming the healthiest diet possible while sparing the planet and individual animals. It is compassion with every meal!
Building Blocks of Happiness
So far on this blog I’ve talked about the fact that happiness is found in our Soul Being and not in our Human Being. So, living more as our Soul Being and less as our Human Being is the key to happiness. To do this I have, so far, proposed two daily practices. The first is yoga and the second is committing to a plant-based diet. This two practices alone, as part of your daily routine, will make you much happier and healthier! But there is more you can do to actively live as your Soul Being. Stay tuned or subscribe to this blog for happiness practice number three coming up soon.
Thanks so much for reading and following!
Jim
