Introduction – A Vegan Encounter
On the very first day of my college journey for my bachelor’s degree in General Science, back in 2016, I had an encounter that would set the course for a profound and exciting transformation in my life. It was a chance meeting with someone who identified as vegan – a term that, at the time, was new and unfamiliar to me. Little did I know that this encounter would ignite a curiosity and passion for plant-based diets, nutrition, and the addressing of the climate crisis that would continue to keep my interest and enthusiasm alive for years.
As I stood there chatting with my now friend, known as my ‘vegan friend’, I found myself curious about the fundamentals of this lifestyle. What did it mean to be vegan? Why had they chosen this path, and what where the reasons behind it? Previously, when I was a teenager, I had tried vegetarianism on and off out of my love for animals, but I never thought to question the ethics of dairy and eggs. It was as though a door had swung open, showing a whole new part of the world I was otherwise oblivious to and knew very little about, and needed to know more – I was hooked.
Learning and More Learning
Intrigued by their passion for a vegan lifestyle, I embarked on a mission to learn more. I asked them many a question, about, for example, all the different plant-based milks, which taste good and not so good, vegan-friendly skincare products, and even the peculiar sounding nutritional yeast, or “nooch”, as the hardcore vegans call it, a nice alternative to parmesan cheese on pasta.
During this quest, one book I read that had a profound impact on me was “How Not to Die” by Dr. Michael Greger. This book quickly became one of my favourites, providing evidence-based insights into the health benefits of plant-based diets and their potential to prevent chronic diseases.
The more I read, the more I found myself poring over the pages, mesmerised and absorbing as much of the information as I could. I couldn’t contain my excitement and often found myself and sharing these newfound revelations with my family members – perhaps even to points of being a tad bit annoying. It struck me how such valuable knowledge was not more widely known and embraced.
Diet Changes
As my understanding of plant-based diets deepened, so did the changes in my own eating habits. I started to experiment with plant-based recipes I would find on YouTube and Instagram, and was kindly gifted some vegan cookbooks.
Gradually, I began incorporating more plant-based protein sources into my diets, such as chickpeas, lentils, tofu, and plant-based meat alternatives, Linda McCartney sausage rolls are esepcially delicious. The world of plant-based milks opened up to me, and I couldn’t resist trying them all, with soya milk and oat milk being the winners for me.
Before I knew it, my kitchen cupboard soon had a stash of nutritional yeast, eventually and proudly referred to as ‘nooch’. I was eating more colourful and delcious foods than ever before!
Personal Benefits
In the midst of my plant-based journey, I uncovered a range of unexpected benefits, as follows:
- Lactose Intolerance Revelation: Switching to plant-based alternatives revealed an underlying lactose intolerance I hadn’t been aware of. This newfound insight not only improved my digestive comfort but also made me question the prevelance of lactose intolerance among the world population, in our dairy-heavy diets. It was found that between as much as 57% to 65% of the world are lactose intolerant (Catanzaro et al., 2021).
- Elevated Energy Levels: One of my most immediate transformations was a noticable boost in my energy levels. It was as though my body has thrived on the nutrient-rich plant-based foods I was now consuming more of.
- Healthier Eating Habits: The shift towards a plant-based diet naturally led me to choose more wholesome and nutritious healthy foods. My meals became more colourful and vibrant with lots of fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Current Perspective
In closing, my journey into plant-based eating has been amazing, and one of the best decisions I have made. Meeting my vegan friend was one of the best things that has happened to me. It ignited a curiosity that has led to a deep passion for plant-based living. Over the years, I have been fortunate to be able to grow and learn, attending VegFest events, be the auditor of the Vegan Society at the University of Galway for 2022-2023, watch documentaries, and witness the increase in vegan products in shops, restaurants, and cafes in Ireland.
I am truly grateful for the knowledge gained, the flavours and foods discovered, and the wonderful community of like-minded people, and cannot wait to continue learning and advocating for a more plant-based future – for the animals and for the planet.
References
Greger, M., & Stone, G. (2016). How not to die: discover the foods scientifically proven to prevent and reverse disease. Pan Macmillan.
Catanzaro, R., Sciuto, M., & Marotta, F. (2021). Lactose intolerance: An update on its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Nutrition Research, 89, 23-34.