One of the foremost reasons why many people choose to be vegan is their love of animals. We believe that animals deserve to live in peace just as humans do. For many of us, this is where our vegan journey begins, and for our friend Michelle, it serves as the sole purpose for her vegan transition. 

Michelle started her vegan journey in 2017 and in a similar way as many of our other Vegan Life Nutrition friends; as a vegetarian! It wasn’t until she became more informed about the seriousness of animal cruelty that she decided to switch to a vegan lifestyle. She also found her voice and became a vocal member of the vegan community. 

Using her voice to educate

While living a vegetarian lifestyle, she quickly came to the realization that she wasn’t doing enough to inspire change and put a stop to harmful acts against animals. She began watching different documentaries about veganism, including What the health and Game Changers, which is what inspired her to cut out all animal products from her life. 

For Michelle, watching these documentaries opened a new door to an unknown world and allowed her to develop a new appreciation for the vegan community.  Michelle maintains an Instagram account @vegout_withme_ and her posts are not only creative and original but educate others about veganism, ethical decisions, and nutritious vegan meals. She is definitely someone that inspires others!

Any dish can be “veganized” and tasty

Michelle says that she feels amazing! She has lots of energy and keeps her body nourished with food that is grown from the Earth.  When Michelle is not working as a pediatric speech-language pathologist in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, she enjoys hiking, working out, running, yoga, cooking vegan food, painting and spending time with her dog. 

A common misperception that Michelle believes should be cleared up about being vegan is the idea that “vegans are depriving themselves from good food.” She wants everyone, especially those considering switching to a vegan diet, to know just how delicious vegan food actually is. If you don’t believe her, try out some of her favorite types of vegan dishes: Thai and Ethiopian. She also says that eating a vegan diet isn’t as hard as it seems and that pretty much all non-vegan recipes can be veganized. 

Family Support

Like many other life changes, having the support of your loved ones is key to positivity and success. Michelle shared with us that her boyfriend, sister, and stepmom have all embraced the vegan lifestyle.  She’s educating her dad, mom and brother about the benefits of making that switch.

Just like many of the others who have shared their vegan journey with us, Michelle says that going vegan is the best decision she’s ever made. Her only regret is not doing it sooner.

Vegan Life Nutrition is proud to be a part of so many vegan journeys.  We don’t sacrifice quality for innovation. Our products are always free of toxins, allergens, and unnecessary ingredients. How? We strictly examine raw ingredients and fully-vet each final product. Quality is our top consideration, and we adhere to the guidelines of some of the toughest regulatory authorities in the world.

Would you like to share your Vegan Journey with us?  Provide your contact information below, and we will reach out to you.  

[contact-form-7]

The post Inspiring voice: Michelle appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

Luis Cerna is a Washington native, and his vegan journey started behind bars in federal prison for drug-related offenses. As strange as it may sound, he says his incarceration taught him to reflect and grow his mental, physical, and spiritual health. The years of incarceration weren’t the only battle he endured. For someone who is serving a prison sentence, the surging stress levels can leave little to be positive for, and that takes a toll on your physical and mental health.

A vegan journey that’s more than diet

Luis took it upon himself to not let his sentence determine the rest of his life. He made significant lifestyle changes in a very vulnerable state and implemented greater changes when he regained freedom. He turned to veganism at the beginning of 2020. This was a New Year’s health resolution that stuck. He experienced health benefits like increased energy but found that veganism had a much greater impact on his life. He spends most of his days exercising, meditating, reading and enjoying time with his 11-year-old daughter, who he credits as his motivation for his change. 

Luis is thankful to spend more time with his family, and although they are not vegan, they are very supportive of his lifestyle change and even eat and prepare vegan dishes when he comes to visit. His absolute favorite dish is vegan fish tacos, and his go-to snack is cucumber with lemon and cayenne pepper. A simple and easy snack that we just can’t wait to try! He says that the hardest part about veganism is that, contrary to popular belief, there are actually very limited healthy vegan options available in dining restaurants. He tries to cook as much as he possibly can.

Luis says that “being vegan feels great,” especially when people ask him where he gets his high level of energy from.  He says it’s awesome knowing that his lifestyle change not only makes him feel amazing both physically and mentally but also helps give back to this planet. His biggest takeaway from his vegan journey so far is that “being vegan is  a way to give back to this planet and to yourself.”

A vegan journey through workouts, nutrition and supplements

A few common misconceptions about veganism that Luis would like to share with others are that you are unable to grow muscle mass on a vegan diet and that being vegan is expensive. In terms of growing muscle mass, Luis has been able to build muscle through daily workouts, proper nutrition and protein supplements. Luis began his vegan journey confined in prison, which is not the easiest place to begin your journey. Although Senate Bill 1138, passed in September of 2018, requires “licensed California health care facilities and state prisons to make available plant-based meal options containing no animal products or by-products,” living a vegan lifestyle in prison comes with challenges. However, for Luis, the vegan options available to him during his time of incarceration were sufficient. 

Luis’ vegan journey proves that anyone can be vegan and get the proper nutrients despite facing challenging circumstances. 

Vegan Life Nutrition is proud to be a part of so many vegan journeys.  We don’t sacrifice quality for innovation. Our products are always free of toxins, allergens, and unnecessary ingredients. How? We strictly examine raw ingredients and fully-vet each final product. Quality is our top consideration, and we adhere to the guidelines of some of the toughest regulatory authorities in the world.

Would you like to share your Vegan Journey with us?  Provide your contact information below, and we will reach out to you. 

[contact-form-7]

The post Breaking an Unhealthy Sentence: Luis Cerna’s Vegan Journey appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

An Ethical Choice

While Matt’s primary reason for going vegan was for the environment, he says that the ethical aspect was a close second for him. He embraced veganism with the new year, and that start date was January 1, 2015.  In his free time, Matt spends quite a bit of time enjoying the beauty of nature and often finds himself connecting with the animals he meets along his walks. In his eyes, they are friends who cohabitate in the same environment we live in. He truly appreciates every moment he spends enjoying nature and meeting new friends; We definitely consider him a friend to each and every kind. 

When asked by Vegan Life Nutrition what living a vegan life feels like, he said, “it feels amazing, free of guilt and definitely healthier.” Not only does his mind feel better knowing that he is making ethical choices in life, but so does his body. He no longer gets food comas and feels that he has much more energy and stamina than he did before making the switch.

Vegan Family Dynamic

Matt shared that living a vegan lifestyle is a much wider family change.  He and his wife embraced an animal-free way of life and that extended to his wife’s family as well.  He says that many misunderstand veganism.  When asked about the vegan myths, Matt jokes, “That we’re all weird hippies or that we’re a bunch of weirdos. I mean, I am, but I’ve met others that are not.” His favorite dish in his home in the United Kingdom is vegan kabobs.  Matt says that vitamins for him offer extra insurance when he “remembers to take them.”

Reforest the Web

Matt started his company with his mindset on combining his love for the planet with his passion for web design. ‘Reforest the Web’ chooses to use its platform for good rather than greed, which is something that many of its loyal customers appreciate and cherish. For every service that they sell as a team, they plant 5 trees to contribute to reforestation. Matt’s overall mission is to help others grow their businesses while also helping to build a more sustainable world. This way, everyone grows together! Each month, they plant over 1,000 trees, which Matt says “is a feeling that cannot be beat.” 

Matt is proud to have made the choice to switch to a vegan lifestyle, and he encourages others who are considering going vegan by educating them on not only the environmental benefits but additional benefits as well. The best advice he has for anyone looking to make the switch is “living a life that does good in the world is a life worth living, so don’t delay; go vegan today!

Vegan Life Nutrition is proud to be a part of so many vegan journeys.  We don’t sacrifice quality for innovation. Our products are always free of toxins, allergens, and unnecessary ingredients. How? We strictly examine raw ingredients and fully-vet each final product. Quality is our top consideration, and we adhere to the guidelines of some of the toughest regulatory authorities in the world.

Would you like to share your Vegan Journey with us?  Provide your contact information below, and we will reach out to you.  

[contact-form-7]

The post A vegan journey beyond saving animals: Matt Unsworth appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

World Health Day is more than just a holiday meant to remind you to eat healthily and not skip your workout. This year, it’s about health equity, too. We cover everything you need to know about this year’s World Health Day theme below!

World Health Day 2021

Celebrated annually on April 7th, the day commemorates the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). World Health Day is intended to raise awareness around challenges and opportunities related to improving health across the globe. Each year, the WHO designates a theme to draw attention to a different global health issue. 

This year’s focus is building a fairer, healthier world. In medical communities and governmental bodies, this is referred to as “health equity,” and whether or not it exists in our communities has a huge impact on the overall state of health outcomes.

What is Health Equity?

Health equity is a deceptively broad term. In general, it refers to the goal of making sure everyone has the ability to live full, healthy lives through access to all of the medical care they need, regardless of their background or circumstance. According to the CDC, “Health equity is achieved when every person has the opportunity to attain his or her full health potential and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances.”

Many places in the world, including the US, experience unequal systems of healthcare, meaning that not everyone has access to equal care that results in equitable or fair outcomes. Many areas have seen this lack of health equity become especially noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic; it has been recorded that communities with more disadvantages or obstacles are harder hit by the pandemic than others.

“Some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others – entirely due to the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age,” reports the WHO. Some obstacles to health equity include: 

• Racial and ethnic discrimination
• Lack of access to quality education
• Income and wealth gaps
• Inadequate housing
• Unsafe environments

How to Honor World Health Day and Promote Health Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it obvious that we each need to take proper preventative health measures and ensure that we have access to the right care when we need it. But making sure that our communities as a whole are healthy requires much more than just a focus on individual health. Much like environmental veganism aims to improve the environment as a whole and not just the environment of the select population that chooses to live a vegan lifestyle, establishing health equity means improving health outcomes for everyone across the board. Health equity is a notoriously difficult issue with no quick fix, but there are a few things you can do to support this year’s World Health Day theme and promote equity in your immediate community.

Support Established Organizations

The good news is that when it comes to improving health equity, we aren’t starting at ground zero. There are already many organizations across the US whose missions are to improve the circumstances of underserved populations. Individual organizations will have their own unique ways for you to get involved and some of the best ways to help don’t involve giving money! A few organizations of note to get you started: 

• Feeding America: Feeding America’s local chapters work to get nourishing food from farmers, manufacturers, and retailers to those who need it most. (Read about our 2020 journey with Feeding San Diego here!).
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: St. Jude’s helps kids defeat childhood cancer and other fatal childhood diseases at no cost to their families.
• The Education Trust: This organization works to close opportunity gaps for students of color and students from low-income families. 

These are just a few of the nonprofits doing exceptional and necessary work in our communities! Check out a nonprofit directory like Great Nonprofits to find more active nonprofit organizations near you. 

Thank Your Healthcare Workers

World Health Day is the perfect time to show healthcare workers that you appreciate the work they do with a simple note or word or encouragement. It’s also a great time to have a conversation with a healthcare worker in your life about what kind of local help is needed to support health equity initiatives in community healthcare spaces. You may be surprised what you learn by initiating the conversation!

Take Care of Yourself

As we work toward more equitable health outcomes together, we also recognize that good individual health starts at home. Make sure you’re prioritizing your personal health with these key tips:

• Go Plant-Based: Adopting a plant-based diet is already an excellent step in the right direction. Not only may vegans experience fewer negative health outcomes than their peers, veganism also promotes a sustainable way of living that promotes caring for our planet, our environment, and our food sources.

• Exercise: Exercise has many benefits outside of weight management. Not only can it keep your body in shape and help prevent the risk of certain diseases, but studies show that it can help reduce anxiety, boost energy, and improve memory among other things.

• Care for Your Mental Health: If you don’t take care to ensure that your emotional, psychological, and social needs for wellbeing are met, it likely won’t be long until other parts of your daily health begin suffering, too. Make a conscious effort to take care of this aspect of your help. If you find that you’re struggling with symptoms or thoughts that make it difficult to get through your day, make sure you seek the help you need to get back on track.

• Get Adequate Nutrition: Good nutrition is an essential part of staying healthy. If your body is not receiving the nutrients it needs, certain essential processes and functions may be compromised. Ensuring that you’re getting enough of all of the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs helps boost your energy, sustain your immune system, and protect you against certain diseases. Vitamin D, vitamin B12, and calcium deficiencies are among the most common vitamin deficiencies experienced by Americans.

Have questions about beginning your health journey with the right supplements? Contact our customer support team anytime for answers, or browse our line of completely vegan health products.

The post World Health Day: Health Equity and Your Health appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.

When you become vegan, it may feel like you’re adopting an all-or-nothing lifestyle. In certain regards, that’s true! By definition, veganism involves zero consumption or use of animal products or byproducts. It’s not always abundantly clear, however, which foods and products are truly vegan and which are not. Many vegans can recount times in which they have accidentally eaten meat or a meal that involved animal byproducts.

What Should I Do If I Accidentally Eat Meat as a Vegan?

• Don’t Panic
• Drink Water
• Manage Any Food Sensitivity
• Refocus Food Consumption
• Maintain Vegan Nutrition

Starting a vegan family?  Learn about vegan prenatal vitamins here

Don’t Panic

More acute than any other effect may be the feeling of psychological distress after unintentionally eating animal flesh or an animal byproduct. Panic may be the first thing you want to do, especially if you don’t feel like the lapse was your choice. Understand that a momentary slip doesn’t mean that you aren’t vegan anymore. Give yourself some grace and try to think positively about the ways you can get back on track moving forward.

Manage Any Sensitivity

Very few people are allergic to meat, but many vegans do report symptoms of food sensitivity when meat is accidentally introduced into their diets. Sensitivity can include symptoms as mild as headaches and irritability and as inconvenient as bloating, gassiness, or heartburn. If you do experience sensitivity, drink plenty of water, and typically, any symptoms usually subside within a few hours. Taking a digestive aid or doing something lightly active like taking a walk may also help alleviate discomfort sooner rather than later. In most cases, your body will process the animal product appropriately, even if you’re experiencing mild discomfort. If you find that you are one of the rare people who does experience an allergic reaction, take appropriate measures to consult a physician or emergency doctor to manage your symptoms.

Keep Nutrition Top of Mind

If intense cravings and subsequent lapses are frequent occurrences for you, you may need to look to your overall nutrition for answers. When all of your nutritional needs are met, cravings for “forbidden” foods are often less severe and less frequent. Make sure that you’re aware of the nutrients that are harder to come by for vegans, and take extra measures to include them in your diet on a regular basis, whether by finding new recipes or by making a supplement part of your routine. Maintaining a state of optimum nutrition through nutrient-dense plant-based foods and supplements will keep your body strong and capable despite any setbacks in your diet. 

Pick Up Where You Left Off

Above all else, know that your momentary detour from veganism doesn’t mean that you can’t jump right back into that lifestyle with dedication and excitement. In the grand scheme of things, an accident or two will not negatively impact the benefits of a plant-based diet. Remind yourself of the reasons you started. Remain consistent and feel confident that your choice to maintain a plant-based lifestyle will keep you healthy and happy in the long run regardless of a mishap or two.

The post What Should I Do If I Accidentally Eat Meat as a Vegan? appeared first on Vegan Life Nutrition.