Being vegan comes with a slew of health benefits that more people are slowly becoming aware of. Magazines and blogs post stories of magical transformations that seem too good to be true.
Many passionate vegans will even tell you that everything in their life got better after going vegan. On the other hand, you’ll find people who tried the diet and went back to their omnivorous ways due to feeling sluggish, hungry, and unhealthy.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what it feels like to be vegan in today’s world. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who went vegan for the animals and gets all the nutrients that the human body needs regularly.
What It’s Like Being Vegan
There are significant changes in one’s external and internal space once you go vegan. Let’s take a look at both.
Internal
Physiological State
Going vegan is accompanied by a significant boost in energy levels, both mentally and physically. Animal products require tremendous energy to digest, and switching to a vegan diet liberates this energy so it can be used to improve other areas of your life.
This is especially advantageous to athletes as they can use this extra energy to clock in more hours of training. A vegan diet can also help boost athletic performance significantly.
Another advantage experienced as a vegan is an increase in recovery rates after intense physical activity.
Non-vegan diets contain cholesterol and saturated fats, which block the arteries and slow down circulation. A vegan diet prevents arterial blockages, allowing blood to circulate freely throughout the body and speeding up the healing process.
Finally, plant foods are dense in nutrition and not heavy like animal products. As a result, a vegan diet will help you feel light and quick.
So, to sum it up, elevated energy levels, better recovery, and a lighter step are the most prominent health benefits of going vegan.
Mental State
The lack of arterial blocks and increased energy can enhance cognitive function and improve your mood over time. A vegan diet can help you get rid of brain fog and think sharply.
However, going vegan is accompanied by the cruel realization that animals are treated as commodities, with no thought to their physical or mental well-being.
Initially, this realization can be overwhelming, even leading to bouts of intense despair or depression. This is why it’s best to find a group of vegans in your city as they can relate to these experiences and provide the kind of support you need during this phase.
External
As a vegan, it may take a few months for you to notice the transformation in your internal physiological state. But you’ll see a sudden change in your external environment, which can come as a bit of shock to come people.
Your closest family members and friends are sure to question your life choices repeatedly, giving you ridiculous explanations of why they think you’re making the wrong decision.
Being invited out to lunch or dinner is often accompanied by a pang of anxiety as you know what to expect. And if your family is full of meat lovers, these gatherings can be quite emotionally demanding.
You will also increasingly find yourself in some awkward social situations with friends as they talk to each other about what they ate for their last meal. Some will belatedly realize your stance on animal products and try to change topics, while others may forge ahead anyway.
Your lifestyle will also be repeatedly questioned by people too afraid to learn the truth about what happens to animals. These are the kinds of people who will poke fun at you for being vegan and ‘eating only grass.’
It’s crucial in these moments to remember that you fight against the exploitation of animals. Keeping the bigger picture in mind will help you bear the awkward moments more easily.
It’s Part of Being Vegan
It may be challenging to deal with the sudden changes in the first few months, but people will eventually stop questioning you when you’ve stuck with it long enough.
Yes, it can be confusing and a little intimidating to turn vegan in a non-vegan world, but it’s the first step to liberating animals and granting them the life they deserve.