How I Became a Vegetarian and Changed My Life

I have been a vegetarian for nearly three years. The funny thing is, even before I was a vegetarian people always assumed that I was one. Admittedly, I tried several times in high school but the diet never stuck. However, once I committed, I truly think the decision changed my life.

What do I mean by it changed my life? Well, first of all, I feel more aligned with my values.

During my yoga teacher training, I discovered a style of yoga that I loved called Jivamukti yoga. The premise behind Jivamukti yoga is “compassion for all beings.” When I read about Jivamukti yoga, I aligned with all of their basic premises, except one. Jivamukti yoga practitioners do not believe that any animals or beings are put on this earth to be exploited. As a result, they follow a vegetarian diet.

This may seem simple, but it got me thinking: Why is it that I align with every single principle of Jivamukti yoga, except one? Is there something about eating meat that does not align with my values? Should I give it another try?

When I Became a Vegetarian

When my yoga teacher training was complete, I wanted to continue my journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. In yoga, there is a practice called Sadhana. Sadhana means devotion, loosely translated from its Sanskrit roots. It is a practice of dedication.

I decided that for 30 days after my yoga teacher training, I would follow a vegetarian lifestyle as a Sadhana. To motivate myself, I watched a popular Netflix documentary titled, “What the Health.” Admittedly, I believe the creators of the documentary are guilty of utilizing scare tactics to promote a vegetarian lifestyle. However, it turned out to be an unnecessary exercise.

After about three days of following a vegetarian diet, I noticed a positive change. For one, I felt more energetic. I also noticed my skin looked clearer. The whites of my eyes looked brighter as well. Perhaps it was all in my head, but I could not deny how much better I felt. That was nearly three years ago.

How To Become a Vegetarian

I mentioned that I attempted to become a vegetarian several times before it stuck. Well, third time is a charm right? No, in fact, is was not simple luck that helped me to attain success. It was careful planning.

I did not want to live on vegetarian burgers, soy, substitute and bread. I want to debunk the myth that people will automatically lose weight on a vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet includes Oreos, Doritos, and even McDonalds French fries (if you ignore the fact they are fried in the same grease as non-vegetarian products). However, these foods do not have any nutritional value.

You need to prepare to seek out nutritional alternatives to meat before you become vegetarian. Otherwise, you risk nutritional deficiencies.

Olivia Schnur

When I first became vegetarian, I had no idea what to eat. Admittedly, I never really thought much about my diet. I just assumed I was getting enough nutrients. But I knew if I wanted to be successful, I needed to do my research.

At first, it can be daunting. Going vegetarian may require you to learn about new foods you have never even heard of (like nutritional yeast or tempeh). But over time, you slowly introduce new foods into your diet. As a result, you do not have to think very hard about getting the proper nutrition. If you do your research you can create healthy dietary changes over time.

Vegetarian Nutrition

Meat has many nutritional benefits. However, according to an article in the Journal or Geriatric Cardiology, there are many plant-based foods that also contain the same nutrients as meat. The following list contains common nutrients that are lacking in a vegetarian diet and alternative food sources that contain them:

• Vitamin K comes from leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, lentils, peas, asparagus.
• Vitamin D is absorbed through sun exposure. However, individuals who are deficient in this or who live in areas with low sun exposure may find it in fortified milk.
• Vitamin C is primarily in fruits, potatoes, leafy greens, peas, chili and bell peppers, and tomatoes.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in vegetarians. B12 is in fortified foods like nutritional yeast and plant-based milk, or supplements.
• Protein is another common culprit of vegetarian nutrition deficiency. Protein is in legumes, nuts, seeds and soy foods like tofu and tempeh.
• Omega-3 is in seeds, leafy greens, soy products, walnuts, wheat germ and micro algae.
• Fiber comes from fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
• Calcium is in tofu, almond butter, fortified plant milk, sesame seeds, tahini, and figs. It is also in low-oxalate leafy greens such as, broccoli, cabbage, collard, bok choy and watercress.
• Iodine comes from sea vegetables and iodized salt.
• Folate is absorbed from consuming leafy greens, asparagus, almonds, avocado, beets, oranges, nutritional yeast, quinoa and enriched grains.
• Choline is in legumes, bananas, broccoli, oats, quinoa, soy and oranges.
• Zinc is contained in legumes, nuts, seeds, oats and soy.

Adding these foods to your diet can help to ensure you have adequate nutrition. However, it is important to work with a nutritionist or doctor, if you have any underlying medical concerns. I take iron and B12 supplements regularly. I also take Vitamin D in the Winter, when sun exposure is low. You will want to consider your unique health profile. *Please note, I am not a nutritionist.

Vegetarian Meal Planning

According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy vegetarian diet contains a balanced amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. A vegetarian diet should also be low in sugar-sweetened juices and refined grains. The Mayo Clinic suggests the following daily amounts (based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet):

• 2 1/2 cups of vegetables
• 2 cups of fruit
• 6 1/2 ounces of whole grains
• 3 cups of dairy
• 3 1/2 ounces of protein
• 27 grams of oils

How A Vegetarian Diet Can Change Your Life

If you learn how to maintain a healthy vegetarian diet, based on nutrition, you can achieve many health benefits. According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarian diets are considered healthy and appropriate during all stages of life. Furthermore, the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology suggests a vegetarian diet is ideal for the elderly. The reason being: the diet is digestible, nutritious, easy to prepare, and easy to blend into liquid drinks when necessary.

Here are just a few benefits of plant-based diets, according to an article in the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology:

• Lowered overall and ischemic heart disease mortality
• Weight control and reduced risk of obesity
• Reversed cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes

According to The Permanente Journal, patients on a plant-based diet may also begin to eliminate the amount of medications they take for chronic conditions. They may also reduce their risk of cancer. Overall, a plant-based diet is low-risk, with the potential to decrease blood pressure, lower body mass index, and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, it is cheaper than eating meat.

Reasons to Go Vegetarian

I became vegetarian because it aligns with my view of the world. It also makes my body feel better. My theory is that we absorb the energy of the animal we consume. Many animals are raised in cages, pumped full of antibiotics and hormones, and forced to live a confined existence. On top of feeling deep sadness about these conditions, I also do not want to introduce that energy into my body.

Because of this, I will eat meat on rare occasions. For example, my cousin has a hobby farm. His animals are cared for and loved by his family. They have ample space to roam with fresh air and green grass. I also know that when the time comes for them to be utilized for meat, they are butchered humanely. They live full lives and do not experience fear or stress when they die.

Some vegetarians do not agree with my decision to consume meat selectively. But this is what works for my body. I do not want anyone to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle if it does not align with their goals, nutritional needs, or interests.

People have a lot of different reasons for becoming vegetarian. All are valid. Here are a few common reasons for going vegetarian:

• Health benefits
• Weight loss
• Compassion for animals
• Concern for the environment

How a Vegetarian Diet Can Change the World

Regardless of your motivation for going vegetarian, it will not only have an impact on your health but the health of the planet as well. According to The Vegetarian Society, eliminating meat from your diet for one year is the equivalent to taking a family-sized car off the road for six months! Furthermore, a plant-based diet results in 2.5 times less carbon emissions than a meat-based diet.

According to Advances in Nutrition, switching from a standard diet to a vegetarian or vegan diet reduces greenhouse gas emissions by a median of 35-45%. This change in diet could also lead to a median decrease in 42-49.5% of land use. It could also result in a median decrease of water use by 28%. Overall, the fewer animal products you consume, the more of an impact you will have on sustainability.

However, Advances in Nutrition also found that the type of diet matters. For example, consuming fruits and vegetables out-of-season or grown in high energy consuming greenhouses has a negative impact on the environment. Meat-eaters looking to reduce their environmental footprint could consider eliminating lamb and beef from their diet. These animals have a high environmental impact.

What I Learned By Following A Vegetarian Diet

Overall, being vegetarian forces me to remain mindful of my consumption. I do not count calories or obsess over my food intake. However, I remain aware of my meal choices. If I notice changes in my energy level, weight, or mental focus, I know which foods provide the nutrition I need.

I do not think a vegetarian diet is right for everyone. However, it only took me three days to find out it was right for me. Three years later, and I have sustained my commitment to a vegetarian diet. However, to me, it is not really a diet; it is a lifestyle.

About the Author

Olivia Lynn Schnur is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Yoga Teacher and Writer. She writes about health, healing and happiness. To learn more, you can explore more blog posts like this one. Or check out her portfolio of published work.

Disclaimer:

This blog post and additional information posted on oliviaschnur.com represent Olivia Schnur’s personal views and should not be treated as professional guidance. The views in this blog post do not represent clinical treatment guidelines or recommendations and should not be treated as medical or mental health guidance. Furthermore, the views expressed on this blog and website do not reflect the views of any professional companies by which Olivia Schnur is employed.

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