I choose to enjoy a vegan lifestyle first for ethical reasons and as I experienced the health benefits of consuming nutritionally rich, fiber dense foods my commitment was enhanced.

Regarding the ethical consideration, I had reached a point at which a major realignment of the way I was living was necessary. Major depression and debilitating anxiety made it clear that my path was not sustainable and that a complete “do over” was the way forward. Among many of the changes of the reboot was a commitment to live causing a little harm to others (all others) as possible. In the middle of a bite of a BBQ’d shrimp some 25 years ago it struck me - consuming animals did not align with that commitment. I spit out the shrimp and have not eaten meat since.

When I reached the age of 50, though eating a plant-based diet, I was over-weight, out of shape and physically unwell. About that same time, my estranged father died at a relatively young age of one of several heart attacks. He had also, as I understand it, suffered from malfunctioning kidneys. The writing was on the wall - It was again time for a major change, and this time it needed to be a physical change. In response I adopted what I refer to as No/Low PASS nutrition - Low P rocessed, No A nimal, Low S alt, Low S ugar nutrition. I also adopted an exercise routine that includes a combination of resistance training and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). 60 pounds lighter and in the best physical condition of my life, I would not trade the benefits and enjoyment of Nutritionally Rich, Fiber Dense food for all the steak and junk food in the world!

To sum up, veganism aligns well with my personal commitment to live as kindly as possible to each those beings with whom I share the world and to my self.

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