Destination Vegan?
The journey; My journey . . .
For a few brave
people – switching to a vegan diet and lifestyle is something that they throw
themselves into pretty much overnight.
And if you are an ‘all or nothing’ character this may well be the best
way for you.
For me, however, it was a little different. When I look back now, I see a gradual awakening that
saw me progressing through a 5 year evolution from confirmed carnivore to
veggie to vegan - where I am, very happily, now.
Pretty much over those
5 years I progressed through the stages of being an ‘ethical’, ‘organic’,
‘welfare-conscious’, ‘meat-free Monday’ consumer.
I read labels
incessantly and knew that processed foods were laden with a whole
host of alien ingredients that I simply didn’t want to consume. I cooked most
meals from scratch and became increasingly aware of the widespread use of
drugs and pesticides in food production and manufacture.
But I was still a
consumer of meat, fish and dairy none-the-less. So just what was it that made
me first decide to give up meat and fish for good?
Two things:
1. My best friend of 33
years being diagnosed with cancer.
2. Caring for some
ex-battery hens.
Two starkly
contrasting things; but, as I was to find out later – possibly inextricably
linked…
Sally (pictured here on
the left with me) had been my best friend since the age of 7. She was the type
of friend who knows you better than you know yourself. We shared everything and
she was a complete and utter joy to be around – one of life’s true beautiful angels.
When she got the
diagnosis we both frantically researched, looking for answers as to why this
had happened and how she could be helped, perhaps through a change in diet? She
went organic, gave up her beloved Chardonnay, started on fennel juicing and
having read the China Study, quit beef and dairy foods too.
But try as we might,
and despite a double mastectomy and 2 rounds of intensive chemo she succumbed to
secondary cancer of the liver and lungs and died within 6 weeks of being given
that terminal diagnosis.
Nothing could have
prepared me for the complete devastation I felt at losing her – particularly so
young and in her prime. Even writing this now, two and a half years on, it’s
almost unbearable to think of and I need to stop and wipe tears away. I miss
her every day and always will.
In the months that
followed I became obsessed with finding answers as to why this had happened to
her. I resumed my MSc studies (formerly Health Science and latterly Weight
Management) and read / surfed avidly. And, as is the way when you start
internet research, I followed a trail that got deeper and deeper until it
ultimately led me to uncover some very shocking truths about the way in which animals
are farmed for food.
Of course I knew
animals died in order to provide us with food – how can you not? But like so
many of us, I believed it was a health necessity and a natural part of our
culture to eat meat. I’d been victim to those oh-so-clever marketing tactics
and I’d conveniently (blissfully) been ignorant to the way in which animals are
treated as commodities.
What I found, sure as
hell, ‘woke’ me up. This is not the place for the graphic details. But you
should, in all conscience, take a deep breath and do some simple online
searches. It is the stuff of nightmares, but if you consume the ‘products’,
then you should know and understand what happens to create them. One word always
echoed in my head: ‘sentient.’
sentient
adjective
- able to perceive or feel
things:she
had been instructed from birth in the equality of all sentient life forms
And, as if to bring that word to life, at the same time I adopted 4 ex-battery hens through the
British Hen Welfare Trust. (It was at the time when the campaigning to improve
welfare standards for chickens was running and it seemed like a lovely thing to
do.)
It turned out to be
an act with far reaching consequences because each and every day as I watched
these poor de-beaked, de-feathered ‘egg machines’ blossom into the hens that
they were meant to be, I saw personalities emerging, and witnessed
intelligence, logic, emotion – the full range infact. And by January 2012 I’d
seen and experienced enough. I became vegetarian and began to change all my household
and toiletry / beauty products from not only organic and eco friendly, but to containing
no animal-derived ingredients and never tested on animals. I vowed never to buy
any leather products, feather filled products, wool, silk or fur ever again, and to shun the use of animals in ‘entertainment’ settings.
I now knew that as
well as for reasons of health, I no longer wanted to eat meat or fish and use
animal based products, because I could no longer contribute to industries that were
based on pain, suffering, exploitation and ultimately, murder.
I knew instantly I’d
done the right thing. I worried that the change might be tough – but I worked
my way through the plethora of meat substitutes on the market, tried hundreds
of exciting new recipes I wouldn’t have dreamt of before and continued to
research into it all.
But a year down the
line into my new and ‘improved’ lifestyle (which still included eggs and dairy),
I wasn’t feeling well at all (either physically or mentally). I had gained a
lot of weight, was suffering with constant back problems, joint pain and
swelling and migraines. I was bitterly disappointed that my diet didn’t seem to
be that healthy for me and I was also still losing sleep over something that just
wasn’t ‘right’.
I couldn’t put my
finger on it and at the time I attributed it to my ongoing bereavement
depression over losing Sally.
But then another
pivotal thing happened…
I watched 2 YouTube videos:
One called ‘A calf and a half’ about milk production at one of Cadbury’s dairy farms.
And the other a lecture
by an animal rights activist called Gary Yourofsky.
That same afternoon I
attempted to watch Earthlings, got 22 minutes in – to the point where a stray
dog is thrown into a garbage truck (alive) and I pretty much had a breakdown. I
cried for hours.
That was it for me.
No more dairy, no
more eggs, no more ignorance.
I knew that for so
many reasons I needed to follow a
vegan diet AND a vegan lifestyle. This wasn’t a choice as such – it was an
absolute compulsion, and as I’ve heard it described by others since – a ‘moral
obligation and an imperative’.
Hand on heart, the
day I became Vegan, I felt an actual sense of relief and everything in my life fell into place.
I saw the world, I see the world, with very different eyes.
Some of that relief I
believe, comes from an innate ‘knowing’ (that I’m sure all humans have, deep
down), that using and eating other species, is, quite simply, morally wrong.
It is wrong because
it isn’t necessary for our survival, in fact in most ways, as I’d also
discovered, it’s detrimental to our
survival. It’s scientifically proven that consumption of animal products contributes
to modern diseases such as T2 Diabetes, Heart disease, Obesity and Cancers. Its decimating our wildlife and destroying our beautiful planet. But
above all, it inflicts unimaginable suffering and pain on our fellow species -
who can think, feel and hurt, just as humans do.
*ALL species have the absolute
right to live a peaceful existence on this planet.
Becoming vegan made
me feel like shouting a million clichés – 'the penny had dropped', 'the cloud had
lifted', 'I’d seen the light' etc. and this is something that you hear repeatedly
when others share their story of why and how, they too, became vegan.
The destination…
Well what can I say?
Quite simply. I have
yet to find ANY negatives.
I thought I’d miss
milk, but there are multiple alternatives that suit all different culinary
needs.
I thought I’d miss
cheese, but knowing how milk is produced meant that nothing could ever taste as
good as the alternative - compassion – felt (and the faux products are
improving all the time).
I thought it would be
hard to find things to eat, but it turns out that with a different mindset to
cooking my food repertoire is now a million times more exciting (read my blog and you’ll see!)
I thought it would be
hard to find non-animal derived products – but man is as clever as he is stupid
and we’ve invented / manufactured all kinds of goods that don’t rely on animals
to make them.
I thought I’d be
joining a cult of 'hippy weirdoes' (apologies dear hippy friends) and labeled as a freak – but instead I found
an incredible new family of consciously compassionate people only too willing
to help me on my vegan journey.
And I’ve even been
able to educate and inform friends, family, and people I meet about what it means
to be a modern vegan in today’s society and the multiple benefits of its
actions. If it’s a label then it’s one I’m very proud to wear.
But what of my
health?
I’ve lost 12kg
without dieting. My BP & cholesterol are below average readings and couldn’t
be better. Genetically, I have inherited sickle cell trait (characterised by anemia - iron deficiency)
and yet my iron levels and B12 levels are up
since becoming vegan (much to my GPs amazement, because this is sometimes an area for concern with
vegans). My joint pain, foot pain, back pain, hand pain, migraines and general
malaise have all disappeared. I no longer have PMT that makes me want to kill
others and then myself.
My skin has improved
(no more hand dermatitis or facial spots), my hair is glossier (rarely do I need
to wash it, apart from to remove environmental pollution), I need far less
sleep, have far more energy, better cardio fitness and mentally – well I’m
ready to take on the world!
I am left feeling
incredible - physically and in my heart, conscience and soul.
Yes, I wish I’d done
it years ago and in a way I wish I’d done it more quickly too.
But, I also know
that, for me, this gradual evolution has taken me to a point where, no matter
what, I will categorically never revert to my former way of living.
But like I’ve said at
the beginning of this piece, if you have a mind to, then going from 'carnivore' to
vegan overnight CAN be done. And I personally would advocate not going through
a vegetarian transition phase – because, in my opinion, there is a tendency to
then over-consume dairy products – which are amongst the worst possible for
human health.
Just jump right in to
veganism and ask the questions later! You won’t be disappointed, because I can
assure you that the positive physical and emotional impact will be
immediate.
It will be the best,
and most important life change you ever make – for YOU as a human, for THEM -
the other animals and for US as custodians of a planet that’s gradually being
destroyed for our blood lust.
So if you’re already
vegan you may identify with some aspects of my story here and I’d love to hear
how it was for you. Please either comment or get in touch.
If you’re not vegan –
then you have the potential to be, because you’re reading this and that shows both
curiosity and compassion. I'll gladly help you should you decide you'd like to try this kinder life. Again, please get in touch.
Try the vegan experience for World
Vegan Month.
One month.
See how you feel.
I’ve added lots of
info to this site to help you on YOUR journey.
Find:
More great recipes
that you ever imagined here.
Vegan product ideas here.
Research on ‘why’ vegan here.
Interesting books to read here.
Travel with us.
It may
be a slightly trickier journey at first –
but the destination is completely
amazing.
Chantal x
Dedicated to the best friend a girl
could ever have – thank you for choosing me, my beautiful Sally B.
