Lifeologia

What health changes have you experienced from becoming vegetarian or vegan?

I've seen incredible health improvements since I have changed my diet. I firmly believe that one can prevent and treat many illnesses with a more plant-based diet - and I am a vibrant living proof of that.

I have called myself a 'healing goddess' a few times ~ and that's for a very good reason. In 2007, only 4 months after my daughter was born, I developed mysterious symptoms that changed my entire life and took away the most beautiful time of my life from me - the first precious years of being a new mom. I was wrapped in the drenched heavy blanket of depression from my symptoms that puzzled the doctors.

Day by day, I felt weaker in my arms that I could not hold my own infant, and weak in my legs that I could hardly go for walks without support. I could barely chew and swallow food - and chocked even on my own saliva. I still read stories to my little girl, but just a few sentences into a short bedtime story, my voice would start to slur and be barely audible..... Eighteen months after the first symptoms, I was finally diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular autoimmune illness, Myasthenia Gravis. After the diagnosis, I was put on a hard medicinal treatment with little promise of a cure ~ as there is no cure for MG at this time. I was torn by the dreadful side effects of the steroid/ immunosuppressants, that by choice, I rejected the conventional treatment. A little hope led to one realization - that I could still control what I put in my mouth.

I started to change my diet slowly, eliminating certain food groups one by one, and over the last two years, I have arrived at an almost vegan and gluten-free, anti-candida, low sugar, organic, vitamin and mineral rich diet that nurtures me and heals me. I have continued to see great improvement with my symptoms and a return in muscle control and strength.

I have to say that I'm now living a very-close-to-normal life, which happily includes playing tag with my now four year old daughter, going on hikes and reading many books as we both snuggle up close. "I remember your voice before" my daughter told me just a few weeks ago, "you do?" I said puzzled, shocked and saddened by her memory "I'm sorry.... mommy had a very ugly voice before". "It wasn't ugly mommy, I wasn't scared" my little angel reassured me and we hugged for a very long time after that....

I believed in myself and trusted my own instincts with the food choices I made. I have gained more confidence now with my diet and continue to make healthy choices for me and my family daily. My diet choice is based on researched facts; among them, that a plant-based diet is gentler on the digestive system, is alkaline, rich in enzymes, loaded in vitamins and minerals, and so many more benefits ~ and therefore more healing to the body in preventing and reversing many health problems.

Do you expect your kids to be vegetarian or vegan?

As a family, we try to eat a variety of healthy plant-based foods whenever possible. However, between the three of us, (me, my husband and our daughter) we all eat different things.

My husband eats many vegan and gluten-free meals that I prepare, and he enjoys them, but he really has no restrictions with his food choices - so he eats what he wants anyway which includes steak and burgers.

Our daughter's meals are mostly vegan and gluten-free when I prepare them, and she loves her vegetables, beans, almond milk and soy ice cream. However, she occasionally does have some meat products also - I do try to buy farm raised meats for both of them whenever possible.

I teach my daughter the importance of vitamins and minerals that are derived from plant-based foods and do focus on making meals that are 'gentler' to the earth. But I do not sway her into veganism by creating or instilling any fear of eating meat or fish.

She is only 4 years old, and eventually she will learn about the food-chain in more detail. One day, she will be able to make her own educated decision of what's best for her ~ until then, she eats what both her mom and dad put on her plate ~ a little bit of everything with an extra serving of veggies!

What's one of your favorite foods you've discovered by being vegetarian or vegan?

I love lentils and beans and the whole variety that comes with what you can do with them. Burgers, casseroles, spaghetti sauce, dips, and even pastry! I love and often 'crave' tofu. But the one food item I really 'discovered' since I changed my diet are hemp seeds. We sprinkle and add-in these superfood-bits into everything!

What are your favorite Blog Posts?

• Mung Bean Cakes
• Lentil Casserole
• Spiced Dessert Balls