One major contribution to going into Lyme Disease remission was changing my diet to vegan. At a young age, I was not able to eat fish or pork. In college, I was unable to digest beef, eggs and chicken. I decided to listen to my body’s reactions and not force myself to eat animal protein sources. So I stopped eating meat, animal by animal. And eventually, I went cold turkey, pun-intended.
My first month of going completely vegan immediately transformed my health. I gained more energy and strength, and my migraines began to lessen. My endometriosis began to be more tolerable throughout the month cycle. I noticed the way I was writing, reading, and comprehending was clearer and more concise, and I was able to work longer hours - mentally and physically. Going vegan also caused my animal empathy to heighten. As I changed my diet, I empowered my health and the rights of animals. The more I researched being a vegan, the more I learned about the numerous benefits it has for our health and the environment. It was truly a life transformation that I am grateful for every day.
In regards to my academic life, my GPA started to rise as test and essay scores became higher. I had the ability to memorize and retain more knowledge, which improved my studies. I believe this was the direct effect of making this dietary transition. Changing one’s diet changes one’s life. It not only impacts physical health, but also every other area of your life, including mental health and academic performance. Eating a plant-based diet has helped me bounce back quicker during moments of anxiety and times of depression, and because of this, I am able to consistently focus on school and reaching my goals. When people live a healthy lifestyle, they can contribute more to the world around them.
While I study, I usually have vegan-friendly snacks available. I am also gluten-free, so my diet is even more restricted. Healthy snacks I enjoy while prepping for a test or researching for an essay include celery with pure grounded almond butter, mixed greens with various veggies, brown rice, quinoa and broccoli, acai bowls, dragon fruit bowls, Go Macro protein bars, and hummus and baked potato chips.
Switching to a vegan lifestyle for me was not difficult, because I did the transition of eliminating animal proteins from my diet very slowly. I have officially been a vegan for 1 year and 2 months. If anyone has been curious about the diet or is considering transitioning, I recommend going to your doctor and getting a full micronutrient blood panel to know which vitamins and minerals you are lacking, so you can properly supplement while you make the transition. I also recommend doing your research, reading different vegan informational books or listening to podcasts about people’s experiences.
Each person’s body type is unique to their biochemical makeup, so it’s important to know what your body is trying to tell you. By paying attention to this, you’ll find that your body reveals to you what it can handle and what it cannot as you attempt elimination diets and trial and error with different foods. For my personal body, that meant eating vegan. A real bonus to that finding is the fulfillment and joy I feel knowing that I am not harming animals when I eat my meals.