Is Eating Vegan Always Healthy?
One prevalent misconception is that adopting a vegan lifestyle guarantees good health automatically. When I first made the switch to a vegan diet, I experienced immediate benefits, such as alleviating allergy issues, shedding excess weight, and reducing body fat. Initially, I prepared most of my meals from scratch due to the limited vegan options available. However, over time, this became time-consuming, leaving me with little time for other activities. So, when I stumbled upon new “vegan” restaurants and products, I eagerly embraced them to save time and savor some delicious food.
Yet, as I delved into these convenient vegan options, I unintentionally fell into the trap of consuming a lot of vegan junk food—processed foods filled with sugars and refined flour. My diet became carb-heavy, which eventually led to skin issues. During a trip, I had a reaction to something I ate, resulting in an uncomfortable and alarming skin response.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have my usual remedies on hand, and my skin condition worsened rapidly, leaving me frustrated and searching for a solution. When I finally returned home, I began treating my skin with a combination of natural remedies, including diatomaceous earth, sea moss gel, activated charcoal, and aloe vera. While these seemed to help at times, the improvement was inconsistent, leaving me feeling perplexed.
Fruit to the Rescue
After a couple of weeks, I still experienced flaking issues despite using these products regularly. That's when I realized my diet was the missing link. I decided to embark on a three-day mostly fruit diet, focusing on watermelon, dark cherries, cucumbers, and honeydew, all of which were abundant and in season at the time. To my delight, my skin started to clear up, and I noticed a surge in energy.
However, during another trip, I ran out of fruits and resorted to buying quick, processed vegan meats. Unfortunately, this choice proved problematic, causing further reactions in my body. Intrigued by the ingredients, I discovered substances like Methylcellulose and Maltodextrin, which prompted me to rethink my approach. While I acknowledge that these “meats” played a role during my transition to veganism, I no longer feel dependent on them to wean myself from meat.
White Potatoes
Additionally, my affection for white potatoes and vegan sweets presented another challenge, but I realized it was time for a change. I embraced a diet primarily centered around fruits, significantly reducing processed foods and sugars, and once again witnessed a marked improvement in my skin health.
So, if you’ve ever questioned whether it’s possible to be an unhealthy vegan, my experience underscores the importance of being mindful of our food choices and the impact they can have on our overall well-being.