This health and wellness blog is for anyone who wants to find and maintain an emotional, physical and intellectual balance in their life. More specifically, if you belong to any one of the following groups, you will like what you see here:
- you are already following a plant-based diet, or you would like to learn more about it;
- you want a place you can turn, in order to find a variety of resources on plant-based diet and lifestyle- regularly updated lists of reading material, documentaries, vegan-friendly cafes and restaurants, food and snacks, influencers and websites;
- you have questions, thoughts, ideas about creating a non-toxic environment (cosmetics and household supplies) for yourself and your loved ones;
- you would like quick, easy, healthy AND delicious recipes which require only a few ingredients;
- you have, or have had, a problematic relationship with food and eating which you are not happy about;
- you would like tips on feeling healthy, balanced and peaceful…
If any of the above sounds like you, stick around because you will probably find something you will like.
Health Struggles Led to a Better Life and Made This Blog Happen
I have a Ph.D, but in a completely different field. So, I am not an expert in dietary practices. That said, academics rarely stop reading and researching. Throughout the years when I suffered from anxiety (graduate students, I feel for you!) and was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, I read whatever I could find on diet, nutrition, and health. I had been a vegetarian for years by then, but vegetarian (or vegan) does not mean healthy. My emotional state at that point prevented me from self-care, a time came when I was consuming the food that I never even liked until then. I had all the corn syrup in the world, all the least complex, least nutritious carbs, and, basically, whatever seemed to be the cheapest and the quickest, the most harmful choice at the moment. I had not realized truly that these were not real food. I mean look at what my students made for me years ago when I was sick (although peanut butter CAN be real food!).
We have too many assumptions about eating-disorders (or disordered eating habits). People rarely believed when I told them that I did not take care of myself. I am a thin person by nature, so they assumed that I was exaggerating, or, worse, that I was showing off my ability to keep the pounds off. Some of them, with good intentions, advised to “listen to your body”. But that isn’t always easy, is it? Sometimes we mistake our distorted thoughts for the biological cravings. We blame the carbs, the sugar, the snacks for being addictive. We blame ourselves for being out of control, for lacking self-discipline. We think that there are good and bad foods, that we are a failure because we keep eating the bad ones. Can we win the fight against the vicious cycle of eating disorders, by feeling like a failure? I don’t think so.
What helped me, then?
What helped me the most was acting on what I had already learned from all those classes, readings, conferences, discussions. I created new habits to get rid of the old ones. Simply knowing about your problem is not going to make it go away. You must act by creating new habits.
It is not always easy to change one’s habits. I understand. But small, healthy, quick steps helped me so much. And my aim here with this blog is to show how easy, how healthy, how fast, how convenient, and how delicious a plant-based diet can be.
Within one year after I started to act on building healthy habits, my blood sugar went back to normal. I no longer suffered from anxiety or anxiety-related issues with food and eating. I continued to read tens and tens of books, articles. I still follow websites, podcasts, panels, and conferences almost religiously. I took online courses in nutrition and exercise, went to certificate programs to learn even more. All of these, in order to continue to heal myself and to care for my loved ones. And I know that I have been stronger, healthier, with a much better skin, energy, mood, thanks to plants. That said, I would highly advise two things: Looking at the list of resources I share (and I will continue to renew the list ) here on the site. Everybody (and mind!) is different. Everyone interacts with foods, beverages, herbs, supplements, even protein or energy powders, differently. So do your own research. Do not take anybody’s word.
Then, you might want to seek out help from a professional. Better yet, see more than one specialist, and decide on your own health. Be your own guide, be your own guru, be your own healer, if you will.
Hang around and get in touch any time you like. We get stronger by lifting each other up!
