ABOUT

"The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison."

the adventure begins...

Anyone who spends more than a few hours with me knows that I love food. I love the adventure in trying new flavors and tasting foods from other cultures. A great Saturday night for me could revolve around spending hours at a restaurant enjoying a meal. Preparing meals has always been a hobby of mine - someone once said that baking was my "love language."

Growing up, I would eat anything! I think I made it easy on my parents by being the worlds least-pickiest eater. I spent time studying abroad in college and ate everything from Kangaroo to cow's blood. Not that I enjoyed it all, but I love the adventure of it.

So you can understand why my dietary changes came as a shock to my friends and family. It took me a long time to even begin sharing what changes I've made and why. I think at first, I was trying to decide if it was even possible to radically change my diet. Then, I didn't want anyone to feel I was being condescending or preachy. I didn't want to burden anyone with my choices. I've found, however, that the more open I am with what I am doing (and why), the more support I find. My friends and family have been so encouraging and accepting. I am really thankful to have such a supportive community. And the more I learn, the more excited I am to share. It is not about deprivation. It is about living fully and experiencing life the best way I can. This is a choice that I feel good about making so I am not ashamed to share it!

for the health of it (long story short)...

I've always been a "healthy" person. I've paid attention to nutrition, stayed slim, and enjoyed exercising...a lot. By the age 25, I'd run a handful of marathons and played on a semi-professional team. But I was taking several prescription medicines daily, including 3x/day for asthma.

My dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. After months of doctors visits and research, he had surgery in 2011. During his research, he learned that Asian men (specifically Japanese men) do not get the type of cancer he had due to their differences in diet. We know that the Standard American Diet (SAD) is high in sugar, fats/meats, and salts & oils. We also know that cancer cells feed on sugar and red meat. I started to think about the connection between our bodies and the food we eat. Maybe our bodies are more than simple input/output machines. Maybe there is a deeper connection. Thankfully, my dad is now cancer free! His experience taught me a lot and certainly made me question many things in regard to my own health.

I started to do research on the SAD and our health. You'd be astounded to see how America's health compares to that of other countries. The more I learned, the more I changed. My doctor was going to prescribe me another medication because I kept getting migraines. Instead, I experimented by cutting out gluten. Not only did I stop getting migraines, I no longer have asthma. After two months without gluten, I had stopped taking my asthma medication and won first place in a 200-mile relay race (while running my PR). I was shocked at how my diet changes affected my health. I started doing more research and eating more nutrient-rich foods.

Here is a quick recap of my first 6 months vegan:

• I watched Food, Inc. and stopped eating chicken and red meat.
• I watched Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and started juicing.
• I came across Kristina's website and started researching a raw diet. Dr. Douglas Graham's The 80/10/10 Diet is a great resource for this. The blogs and youtube channels that I found from this gave me invaluable guidance, insight, and community support for this lifestyle change.
• I watched Earthlings. Well, I only made it 10 minutes in, but that was enough. This solidified for me that I will not eat or support the American meat industry. As Ellen said, this documentary makes "Food, Inc." look like a Disney movie.
• I watched Forks Over Knives and started researching The China Study. I highly recommend this documentary.

So, here I am today. I do not eat meat, gluten, or processed food. I eat about 90% raw vegan and I'm feeling better than I ever have. It sounds intimidating, but it is not. I have had more fun eating such a wide variety of fruits & veggies, flavors, and dishes. To me this is all about becoming a centered person, a healthier person, and a more vibrant person. It is one big adventure!

love,
Liz
Nashville, TN



adventureswithveggies@gmail.com