Hallelujah!

Friday I received the results of my blood test. I had retaken the test since my results from Feb were scary awful. Also, I hadn't fasted before the Feb test. I had been at the doctor following up on allergy related stuff when he suggested I get a full blood panel. The nurse hadn't thought the fruit smoothie I drank before the test would affect things. Boy was she wrong.

For the past ten years my cholesterol has hovered in the 170 to 188 range. I've never had an awful reading. Since I've given up all animal-based foods I expected my cholesterol numbers to be sparkling. The results:

Total Cholesterol: 153
HDL Cholesterol:   82
LDL Cholesterol:    64
Triglycerides:          34

Wowsers! I've never seen such great numbahs in my life. If anyone is considering giving up meat, fowl, fish, and cheese for health reason or dramatically cutting back, I strongly encourage it.

Also, my sodium was in a normal range at 140. Back in Feb it was 153. My doctor asked if I had exercised before my test back in February. I had visited the gym that morning. She said exercise can cause an elevated sodium reading.

Another interesting number I found on my results is ph. Mine is 7.5, which means I'm alkaline. Many books I've read on wellness have stressed how a plant-based diet makes one more alkaline. And when you're more alkaline, you're less likely to get sick. Other than my allergy flare-ups, I haven't been hit with any week-long colds this year.

There has definitely been a learning curve with figuring out what to eat as a vegan. At this point, I feel like I've really hit my stride. I can easily figure out what dishes to make to have for multiple lunches and dinners. I know what items I need to keep stocked in the kitchen. And which chocolates are vegan.

The 30-Day Vegan Challenge

I recently finished reading The 30-Day Vegan Challenge. The book outlines in steps how to transition from a meat and dairy based diet to one revolving around fruits, veggies and grains. The book is full of beautiful food porn, a multitude of vegan recipes and easy to digest information and advice. Every time my son saw the book he'd say about the author's cover photo, "That's mommy's friend." The author, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, is a sparkling example of a vibrant, healthy and passionate woman.

As I read the book there was one phrase that made me cringe. The author referred to eating dairy, butter and cheese as animal secretions. While it's true that these foods are secretions, I think this word is gross and off-putting. I like to think, as Anthony Bourdain often says, that the dinner table is the great equalizer. As long as a restaurant offers a menu that caters to veggie and meat eaters alike, that everyone can dine together and get along. If I were to use the term secretions, I think my cheese-eating friends would feel pretty uncomfortable.

I understand that the author is trying to make the point that we tend to disassociate chicken tenders from the living, breathing animal that the crumb-covered nuggets come from. She also points out that for a cow, goat or sheep to supply milk, it has to be pregnant. These animals are impregnated yearly and their calves are taken from them immediately. Truly upsetting. The book paints a vivid picture and then offers an alternative diet along with recipes.

I didn't originally adopt a vegan diet for ethical reasons. I did it because dairy makes me incredibly sick. As I educate myself about the differences between the Standard American Diet and a plant-based one, it becomes easier for me to associate a block of cheese with an animal doped up on hormones and antibiotics, who has basically no freedom to enjoy life or even to nurse and love her own baby.

The Natural

Yesterday, mom asked me over the phone how I felt. I told her better than I did a month ago but still experiencing inflammation and pints of mucus (It used to be gallons.). Mom said something rather profound, "Nature isn't fast." It's true, unlike popping steroids for a quick fix along with hundreds of side effects, nature or the natural way is slower but free of all the nasty repercussions. The problem with traditional medicine is that it totally overlooks nutrition and diet as a way of healing. I see each meal as an opportunity to heal, rejuvenate, rev-up my internal engine, make my skin glow and hair shine and create an inner calm.

In The China Study, the author highlights the total lack of nutrition training doctors and surgeons receive. The doctors even ingest animal based diets and can't fathom changing theirs or recommending diet as a way for patients to heal. Even more unsettling is the fact that most nutrition training for public health problems is provided by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Dairy Council, The Dannon Institute, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Baxter Healthcare. It's pretty obvious these companies don't have the public's best interest at heart. Instead it's profits that drive them. So greed and power is what keeps wellness from Americans. Now that's sickening.

Also, the National Dairy Council has an advertising budget of 100 million. The Watermelon Council, one million. Again, it's a no-brainer whose messages are getting out. This brings me back to the need for more advertising promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet. Again, I would love nothing more than to meet with the heads of Swiss Chard Marketing.

I found this TV spot that takes a bold step in the right direction. Some of the production values are lacking, but the message cuts through. It's set in the negative. It'd be nice to have communications that also tout the positive.