I have been wanting to write this post for quite some time. In fact, I had never, ever planned on talking about anything like this on my blog, but just keep it about the food. However, I am getting approached a lot with messages, emails, comments and questions asking for guidance. That leads me to believe people want to know more.
Warning: this is a very long, serious candid post, so if you prefer just to see my food posts, stop reading and wait until my next post. No biggie. However, if you really want to know my story and thoughts, read on. I am not painting a pretty picture though, so be warned. More and more people are contacting me with questions about gout and the vegan diet and lifestyle, especially newbie vegans. More on that below. A lot of people want to know why I’m vegan or how they can get somebody else in their family interested in a vegan diet. I figured it was a good time to address these questions.
What if you aren’t vegan or care to be? Well, I first want to say this to my friends and fellow bloggers. I follow several blogs that aren’t vegan and I love you guys. I know those that follow mine aren’t all vegan. I know many of my readers are not vegan. So, please, this is in no way a guilt trip, condemnation or a finger-pointing post. I realize I used to eat meat and dairy too, so I get it. I really do. I will still follow your blogs and love you and respect you. I do because I like you and admire you, that is why I follow your blog. This post is because I felt led to do it and I thought it would really help all the people who are currently transitioning or wanting to transition to a vegan diet and have questions. There have been several people who have told me that my blog has helped their transition to veganism so much easier, and for that, I am so honored. However, if you are afraid of what you may read here (I touch on the animal side of it), then I won’t be hurt if you want to stop now. Just come on back when I post the next tempting dessert! No guilt here! I’m just sharing my own experience. But warning, I’m going to be completely honest and candid from my heart, the only way to be! I’m not telling anybody that they should or need to be vegan, that is a very personal choice and this post is about mine and how and why.
Why do I blog? As always, I want to help people. This whole blogging world began ultimately because of how my life was changing because of my love for my husband. As you read, you’ll understand what I mean. I wanted to share what I was learning in the kitchen and how it was changing my life…our lives. I wanted to reach people. I am also hoping this post may help others with the knowledge I’ve gained. I am in no way a doctor, a nutritionist or “expert” of any kind. I am just a wife and mother who has lived through hell to get to the point I’m at now. I will simply share my own personal experience. I’m not looking for debates or comments on how or why I should eat meat, or how good bacon tastes, as it will not affect me in the slightest. I grew up eating bacon, eggs, sausage, steak, burgers and cheese, so trust me I know what it all tastes like! My life and health (and my family’s health) has changed so much for the better, that I believe this is my destiny to be where I’m at. When you read my story, you will understand why.
What is gout and why did I choose a vegan diet? First off, I can tell you that I did not choose it to lose weight or to be trendy. I chose a vegan diet, if you aren’t already aware, because of my husband’s deteriorating health due to very, severe gout. I touch on it briefly on my About page. Gout is a crippling form of arthritis that typically affects men over the age of 35 and is mainly due to eating high purine foods, with meat and dairy being the main culprits. Although, there are several veggies that can trigger gout as well, mushroom and cauliflower for instance are dangerous for my husband. Alcohol as well, is a huge no-no. Meat and dairy are very acidic to the body, cause inflammation and with somebody like my husband, these foods cause a uric acid buildup that the kidneys do not flush out. When there is an excess of uric acid, the body forms needle-like crystals of the acid which then migrate to joints. The only way to remove the uric acid is through waste, of course. It is very important to drink lots of water, daily, to keep uric acid at bay. The joints mainly affected are the feet or knees. These crystals cause excruciatingly, painful flareups, swelling, redness and is very debilitating. Some people have mild cases, however my husband had one of the worst cases doctors have seen. He was practically living on crutches. It was an awful way for both of us to live. I felt like a caretaker a lot of the time, felt totally helpless and he was always in pain and in bed a lot.
What was it like for me? Imagine, if you are a wife, watching your husband scream in pain for hours and you can do nothing to stop it. Imagine, thinking that you created a “safe” meal for him, just to find out a few hours later that what you fed him caused him to go into a terrible gout attack of pain. Imagine watching him be in pain for hours all night and once he finally can go to sleep, you spend the rest of the evening staying up late crying yourself because of guilt. Imagine each time you want to prepare a meal, you are in fear to do it all over again. I lived like that for years. We were both so angry and both felt so helpless. I spent so much time researching and trying to learn what I could. It was an endless cycle and I hated it. He cried all the time from pain and I cried all the time out of feeling like a failure at helping him. I would always plead to God for help and answers. I would always ask him “Why did you give this to me?” Quite honestly, I was very angry for a long time. BUT, He had a reason. Little did I know, that completely eliminating animal products would be life changing.
No way to live. Whatever my husband would eat, would cause a gout “attack”, which is the sudden onset of swelling, redness and pain that increases very quickly. I literally would watch before my eyes his foot swell up and turn painfully red. Google images if you are curious. I’ll spare you our personal photos. I spent many years being by his side trying to comfort him and wait on him while he would suffer. His pain would get so severe, that I would have to take a belt and wrap it tightly around his thigh just to cut off the circulation for a few moments of relief from the pain happening in his foot. He would get so sick and weak from the pain and would be desperate for pain pills. I would be by his side hand feeding him grapes, just to get food in him, so he could take pain pills. Grapes is always the food he craves when in pain. The pain would get so bad, he would vomit, then he would get very weak and I would feed him while he laid there just to get his strength back. Then after the “attack” would subside, he would then be on crutches for weeks due to the swelling that happened during the attack.
Would a vegan diet really work for gout? In my life, I always try to make choices led more from my heart, not just from my head. What I mean by that is, I have always and will always try to make choices of self-sacrifice when I love somebody. I won’t bore you with the details of all the years I read and researched and tried different elimination diets and medications/treatments. Nothing worked really. Ultimately the one thing that continuously was confirmed to be BAD for gout, even by doctors, was meat. Meat in general has cholesterol, no fiber, is acidic and terrible for digestion. I did know that eliminating meat, at least temporarily, would help. In 2010, he was living in Austin for work, and was sick almost the entire year due to gout. He was always on crutches and in awful pain.
I put him on a very strict diet to heal him. I fed him LOTS of potatoes, fruit and veggies. There was no eating out, no sodas, no sweets. This was strict because I was trying to heal him. Well, not only did his gout clear up, he lost 30+ lbs and looked like a new person! However, once he moved back home to Houston, we gradually started eating meat and junk again. Shortly thereafter I found out I was pregnant (Feb 2011). We ate terribly and he started having flareups again.
We are a team. My daughter was born on October 2011 and she has never been fed any meat or dairy and I’m so grateful for that and her health has been clean as a whistle. But we were still eating it. That first year of her life was brutal. Not only was being a new mom really tough on me, but he started to have flareups back to back. It was so incredibly hard taking care of a baby and a husband that couldn’t walk most days. After all these years, I knew once and for all something had to change.
I knew I couldn’t expect him to do it alone, so I committed to being a vegetarian myself. We started eating vegetarian May 2012 and by October 2012 (my daughter’s birthday), we committed to being vegan. We had still been eating cheese and honestly, I still had some chicken here and there, but by October he had another gout flareup and was on crutches at our daughter’s 1 year birthday party. He couldn’t even help me set up and I was so frustrated and just tired of it all. I just knew then and there it had to stop. It was that day at my daughter’s birthday party, that I had my last piece of chicken. I had just began to research factory farming and really detest the idea of meat, knowing what the animals had gone through before they ended up on my plate. That truly was the defining moment of choosing a vegan lifestyle. No looking back.
Teaching my daughter how to select produce at Whole Foods, which she loves!
The scary truth and how it’s changed me. That brings me to my next discovery. Now, I’m not going to condemn anybody that eats meat or dairy, that is not my purpose here. Again, I am just sharing the complete truth of why I personally am vegan and why my heart is committed to it. I simply am not the same person anymore. It is one thing to choose veganism for health reasons, but it’s an entirely different world of what being a vegan truly means, when it is about the animals. The very definition is obstaining from the use of animal products, in any way. I cannot, will not, ever consume meat or dairy again knowing what I have learned about factory farming. Let’s just put aside the known health issues that can arise from meat and dairy, I know, I have lived it firsthand, but instead look at the ethical side. That’s the part that changed my soul. For one, these animals are injected with all kinds of growth hormones and antibiotics and God knows what, but more than that, they are treated worse than you could ever imagine.
I do NOT crave steak, because all I see is pain now. I don’t crave cheese, because I know how much a cow suffered it’s entire life being forcibly impregnated and in terrible pain from excess milk production that is far, far from anything they were meant to endure. I don’t want ice cream because all I see now is how the cow was abused, kicked and had it’s babies stolen at birth, just so her milk could become cheese and ice cream. I have learned that “cage-free” and “grass fed” are very misleading and quite often, far less freeing than it sounds. How can I know a dog or cat wants love and feels emotion and pain and pretend that cows, chickens, and pigs don’t feel those very same things? Cows are very, very attached to their young. They mourn when their babies are taken from them. I don’t see them as food for those reasons anymore. None of those things appeal to me.
These animals live in complete fear. Can you imagine living in fear every single day and not having any choice how to escape it? That is what these animals on factory farms go through. I want no part of that and I have control of it, by not choosing to consume anything that is a part of it. That includes bedding, pillows, clothing, decor, car interiors, shoes, cosmetics and of course, food. Ironic that it is considered “upscale” or “luxury” when the means to obtain it is pure torture. It is now very hard for me even to look at leather or down comforters, because I know what happened before it ended up in the store. I’ll stop there.
My best piece of advice is if you truly want to know the truth, and truly see animals as beings that deserve compassion and companionship, then don’t ask me the questions, just watch the movie “Earthlings”. It is free on Youtube. It cut me to the core, ripped my heart out, but it also opened my eyes to what I am now thankful I’ve seen. If you are not vegan and are reading this, it may really bother you, as it did me, but I can assure you…your discomfort reading this is far less painful than what the animals suffer.
So what about local farming and our “need” for dairy? Now, I know there are many people who get local milk or eggs or whatever and say the animals are “happy”. Maybe so, I’m not going to get into all that, as I am talking about factory farming and buying from a reputable local farmer is certainly much better. However, I still 100% believe that dairy milk is meant for their babies as we are not meant to drink milk from a cow. I also just can’t dismiss how much better I look and feel, personally, since I eliminated every single type of animal products, including eggs. It is evidenced in so many studies that illnesses, sicknesses and diseases that dairy has been linked to. Read this study here and you can really learn info concerning dairy.
If you are truly interested, I encourage you to research it yourself as I am not one to tell you how to live your life. I can only attest to what I have seen it do to my family and what eliminating it did for my family. I am not a doctor! I would encourage you to research though, if your child is sick often or gets a lot of colds, ear infections, skin disorders, etc. as dairy is often a large allergy. You can read this here relating to studies of dairy being linked to chronic ear infections. My daughter has never drank cow’s milk and has never had an ear infection or digestion problems or constipation. So, I can only share my own experiences. Those can all be linked to dairy, so it is worth looking into if you are concerned. I know so many kids that have had them. You would only know by completely eliminating and see what happens. That includes any boxed products where dairy is secretely hidden. I don’t think it is a coincidence that so many people, especially children, can’t tolerate dairy.
When I was a kid, I used to have the worst tummy aches and sorry, but was always constipated. I had constant sinus infections and colds. I now completely believe that was due to my excess dairy consumption, because I had the same issues all the way until I became vegan. Once I had adapted a vegan diet for many months, I went to my doctor and he tried to tell me I had to have dairy for calcium. I kind of laughed, but in all fairness, I love my doctor. But, it is sad that many doctors aren’t really well informed about nutrition itself, but moreso about treating with meds. Case in point, what we went through for years. A lot of doctors believe the same thing about dairy. You know, the ads of happy, laughing cows and that “milk does a body good” slogan. It’s all about greed and cruelty, that is the reality. There are no laughing cows, trust me. Now, that dairy is out of my life, all my issues are 100% gone! I had sooo many digestion issues and congestion issues that went away immediately once I stopped the dairy. Sometimes I don’t know whether to be thrilled about it or angry that I struggled, unnecessarily, for so many years. You don’t even realize how crappy you felt, until you get rid of the foods, and then realize how much better you feel!
So, how is my husband’s health now? Well, he is a million times better! Initially after going fully plant-based, he was able to get off crutches and off meds! He went without one flareup for about a year and a half. After going plant-based, it has been a learning curve of what plants can trigger gout too (high purine foods), like cauliflower, lentils, mushrooms, for example. He also cannot do physical things that he used to. With his body, his joints are extremely sensitive due to the years of gout flareups. It has made his joints much weaker and more easily affected. We have learned that too strenuous of exercise will cause a flareup. He cannot go jogging or work in the yard anymore. It is tough, but it is reality. We are just grateful knowing that the majority of it has been solved through diet. Life is not perfect and that’s okay. I’ve learned not to ask God to make everything perfect anymore, but instead just to help me accept things that I cannot change and His amazing grace to deal with them. I’m not going to share 20 articles on why a vegan diet works, because it’s not just something I read, I have lived it personally and seen what it can do for us and others.
What changed for me? Other than what I already mentioned above, ethically changing, can I just say that I haven’t gotten sick ONCE since going vegan! Not even a sniffle. I’m more energetic and no longer groggy mid-afternoon. I no longer have any tummy aches or the heavy feeling after a meal. Let me also clarify though, that it is entirely important to eat healthy vegan food. In other words, you won’t be any healthier if you eat nothing but vegan “meats”, vegan processed “cheeses”, vegan junk food, etc. It is just as bad for your health as it is full of chemicals. You should be eating homemade food, veggies, fruits, potatoes, legumes, etc. I eat a diet full of potatoes, some grains (mainly brown rice), lots of beans, nuts, avocados, lots of fruit, tons of veggies, chia seeds, flaxseed, sesame seeds, etc. Potatoes are absolutely our miracle food! I try to incorporate lots of variety. I love my homemade desserts too, of course! On rare occasion, we will eat Field Roast sausage when we want something fast. It is so delicious but it has oil in it, which I try to avoid as much as possible. I don’t use oil when I cook our own food. I’m not promising you that you will be invincible on a vegan diet. You aren’t going to become superhuman or live forever. I again, am just sharing my own experience, which is really all I can do. I can’t speak for others, but the differences are night and day.
So, what other outward changes have I noticed? Well, no exaggeration, if my hair gets any thicker, I may start making wigs out of it. Honestly, I have always had thick hair, but nowhere near the thickness I have now. Even people that personally know me have commented on how much thicker it is. Well, guess what guys, it is even thicker than the last time you saw me….you can’t see my face now, hahaha! I can’t speak for others, but within 3 months of going vegan, my hair started to grow….and grow….and grow. It’s not a complaint, but I am just shocked at what the healthy foods have done for me. It is actually kind of comical. I also lost 40 lbs total! After I gave birth to my daughter in October 2011, I really struggled to lose the baby weight. Still at 9 months postpartum, I was at 170 lbs. Just to give you an idea, I was 125 when I got pregnant, so it was very tough on my confidence. So, when we went vegetarian in May 2012 and vegan by October, I was back to my lean self by Christmas that year. Within a few weeks, the weight started to just melt off. I have debated many times showing my before/after photos. Now understand, I am not in any way saying you can only lose weight on a vegan diet, obviously. I am just simply stating that it does work if you are eating a healthy vegan diet. One of the biggest reasons is because of how much better food digests and how much fiber is in plantbased food.
My skin as well seems to be getting younger looking, as my skin is so much more hydrated and smooth, which I attribute to the healthy fats from avocados and nuts and all the vitamins and nutrients from the veggies/fruits. That coupled with sun protection, exfoliation and Eminence skincare has kept my skin so youthful. Now, I ain’t promising you that you will look 16 again if you adopt a vegan lifestyle, this is just my own experience!
Stay tuned. So, that about sums up my post. Hope you are still with me. Again, this is just MY STORY. I chose to share it from my heart to help others. Not condemn anybody. If you have an issue with anything that I’ve said, then I would ask you why would it bother you so much? I haven’t stated anything here that I didn’t personally experience or learn that isn’t already out there. So, please if you have any questions or comments, let me know below. I give respect, so I ask that in return.
I will do a future post on how to get your kids to eat healthier foods and popular recipes that will fool non-vegans, since that seems to be tough for some. I will say this, a large majority of my readers are not vegan and all rave about the recipes they make for others, if that gives you any idea that it is just simply delicious food! If you have any specific areas you would like me to address, leave a comment below. This has gotten long, so I’m not going into that arena until next time.
As always, I love sharing yummy free recipes to you all. Thanks for your support and the next post will be back to droolworthy food and lightheartedness!
If you liked this post, feel free to share it or pin it!
Hi Brandy! I just recently came across your blog as my husband and I have become vegan (whole food, plant-based – no vegan junk here!) for the past three weeks. I relate so much to your story because we went vegan for the same reason as you – my husband’s health. Last year was rough on us, my husband was diagnosed with Crohn’s, Hashimoto’s (thyroid disorder), and arthritis in his lower spine. We then decided to cut out red meat entirely and limit our dairy and gluten. It helped his Crohn’s a little, but his back pain persisted. I too would lie in bed next to him crying as he was crying in pain. I was scared to cook anything for fear of what it would do to him. I felt helpless on what to do as his pain persisted and he took tons of medication. Three weeks ago we watched a documentary about adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet and how it affects health. We then immersed ourselves in research from Dr. T. Collin Campbell, Dr. Esselstyn, and Dr. John McDougall and decided to make a change. It’s been 3 weeks and he does feel better (although the pain isn’t completely gone – but I’m hopeful it will be!) and has cut his medication in half! It was so uplifting to read your story and how it was helped your family so much! I look forward to cooking your recipes (I also love to cook, but don’t have time to make up my own recipes, so your catalogue will be great!) and seeing the changes in both of us. Thank you for sharing your story and being open and honest about your experiences.
Hi Joanna! Congrats on the new change, it most definitely will help and change his life! SO sorry I’m just seeing this comment! I get so many from all different avenues on social media as well so sometimes I miss them. Thank you so much for the lovely comment! Yes, sounds just like our experience but you have found the answer just as we did and it is the best thing ever.
Hi Brandi. I was looking through your website last night and came across your full story. Thank you for sharing your story; it was very inspiring. It has inspired me to make more of an effort to eat less meat/dairy. The biggest stumbling block I have is the cravings for foods that include meat/dairy to fill that umami fulfilling sensation. Off hand, do you know which of your recipes have the most umami hit? Are any of your recipes labeled umami? If not, would you mind beginning to label your umami recipes so that I/others can easily pull up your umami recipes under the search function?
PS – Thank you for not being judgemental of others who are in a different place on their health journey. I can tell you from personal experience that when I come across vegans who are aggressive and critical, it emotionally drives me towards meat/dairy because those foods provide that immediate emotional umami comfort from the food I eat. I know that’s not the best response, but we’re whole beings, connected on every level, and, whether we like it, or not, emotions are connected to eating. I’ve come across only a couple of people in my lifetime who are emotionally disconnected from food/eating…don’t care about food, hate to be bothered with the need to eat, etc. So, I guess, on some level, even they have an emotional connection to food, it’s just negative – hate, anger, frustration, annoyance, etc. I’ve been working on decreasing my meat/dairy intake, but it’s an ongoing struggle, especially the umami factor.
RL
God bless you Brandi for sharing your inspiring and informative story! I hope it helps thousands of people go vegan. I’m grateful veganism has improved your husband’s health AND penetrated your soul. I appreciate you being a voice for the animals. They deserve our love and compassion. Much love and gratitude to you!
Thank you so much for reading Kathleen and your kind comment!
Thanks so much for telling us your story. I was very unwell myself and had gallstones I had a huge operation and had to have a reconsructed bile duct as the stone was calcified in my bile duct. Even after the operation i was still suffering with pain and overheating all the time. I had terrible facial flushing too. I was on a forum where i read a lot about how changing your diet could benefit you especailly if you stopped eating meat and dairy. Iv been vegetarian for around a year now and feel so much better. Its taken me a while and I’m still trying to give up milk in my tea and porridge. I stopped eating eggs and cheese and yogurt and all other dairy products. I have a freind who is vegan and she is helping me and with recipes and gave me a link to the website. however i noitced that she used olive oil in some of the recipes. im very interested to know why you dont use oil. I feel quite bad that it was because of my health that i gave up meat and most dairy and not for the animals. If i had not been so ill i would probably still be eating meat and i did always feel guilty, especailly when i see those chickens in the supermarket. I hope god forgives me. I had to miss out the part in your story where you talked about factory animals its too painful to read. i have to look on the bright side. at least less animals are suffering because im not eating them and my health is getting so much better. I know what its like to suffer from physical pain as iv had so many illness’s that i havent mentioned. god bless you for your goodness and heping others. I will mention your husband and your in my prayers.
Good Day, Brandi!
Thanks so much for your blog & recipes. I am focused on finding a way to assist my boyfriend who suffers from gout and mentions it often; we live in different states, so I cannot cook in a regular basis for him.
I have been a raw vegan and transitioned into plant based.
Since going into menopause, I had to give up all oils that were causing weight gain & poor LDL numbers 🙁
I am a 53 yr old Afro-American who works out 6-7 days a week for mental/physical health. I mention race because most of my family & friends cannot understand my dietary and lifestyle choices. My heart wishes to engage my community to offer an alternative lifestyle,for health reasons. However, it’s VERY difficult to speak with others without negative comments or ridicule. I honestly need to understand why, so I can address it and overcome the stigma surrounding my choices.
My immediate concern is my boyfriend with the gout, HBP, type 2 diabetes, etc. He eats the SAD and a lot of junk foods/fast foods 🙁
I am very open to any suggestions, approaches and/or discussion points to start helping others.
I love your recipes, insights and positive attitude, it’s refreshing and much needed.
Thanks & have an amazing day!! 🙂
Good Day, Brandi!
Thanks so much for your blog & recipes. I am focused on finding a way to assist my boyfriend who suffers from gout and mentions it often; we live in different states, so I cannot cook on a regular basis for him.
I was previously a raw vegan, ( several years ago) and transitioned into a standard vegan diet.
Since going into menopause, I had to recently give up all oils; I gained 20 lbs & tested poorly on my cholesterol/ LDL numbers 🙁
I am a 53 yr old female Afro-American, who works out 6-7 days a week for mental/physical health. I mention race because most of my family & friends cannot understand my dietary and lifestyle choices. My heart wishes to engage my community to offer an alternative lifestyle,for health reasons.
However, it’s VERY difficult to speak with others without negative comments or ridicule. I honestly need to understand why, so I can address it and overcome the stigma surrounding my choices.
I don’t judge others or make negative comments to cause guilt or ill feelings.
My immediate concern is my boyfriend with the gout, HBP, type 2 diabetes, etc. He eats the SAD and a lot of junk foods/fast foods 🙁
I am very open to any suggestions, approaches and/or discussion points to start helping others.
I love your recipes, insights and positive attitude, it’s refreshing and much needed.
Thanks & have an amazing day!! 🙂
Hi Faith! If y’all live in different locations and cannot cook for him, I would suggest to see if he is open, to read this post, so he can understand how gout is caused and ways to heal it. As mentioned in my post, it was only switching to plant-based that helped my husband. There’s no way to get rid of gout naturally while consuming animal products. That’s the hard truth. They are very acidic to the body. So, your boyfriend will have to make a decision for his health. My recipes are very simple to make and are filling, satisfying, delicious and full of flavor. Many people have transitioned to a vegan diet from my recipes successfully becatse they taste so good! It’s important for your boyfriend to cook homemade as much as possible for success, since store-bought vegan meals are usually very unhealthy, full of sodium and oils.
Hi Faith! I’m just wondering if your cholesterol numbers went down since you have been vegan.
Hi Maggie, I’m Brandi not Faith, haha. Yes, my cholesterol is excellent. I have great lab work. Focusing on whole foods mostly and avoiding processed junk vegan food is very key.
Wow, Woman! Your are Super! I shared your story on my FB page. I have been vegan for about 2 years and i love it. Thx for sharing your story!
Aww thank you so much Kim, that means a lot to me!
Have really appreciated all of you comments. We are not vegan, though slowly heading that way even in our older years. I’d like to somehow be connected with your site, as you are one of the first people who seems sensible about all of this and has a real life story to back it up. I’ll be looking out for more information from you. I’m a retired midwife and a mentor mom for MOPS, so think there are a lot of people who still need to hear more about meat and dairy free.
Thanks for your help. Blessings – Ellie
Hi Brandi,
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It really resonated with me.
I have recently been diagnosed with RA and after doing some research decided to skip the meds and transition into a whole food plant based diet. My meat-loving partner who saw how much pain I was in also transitioned to support me.
Fast forward 4 weeks later and we are both feeling so much better. My RA pain is completely gone! (I was mid flair up when we started). We also lost weight and feel more healthy and energetic.
I’ve only just discovered your wonderful blog and have pretty much pinned every recipe! Can’t wait to make all your delicious dishes, starting with the miso glazed sweet potatoes for dinner tonight.
Thanks again and all the best,
Sharon
Hi Sharon, thank you so much for visiting my blog and commenting! I’m glad to hear my story spoke to you. A huge congrats to you and your partner for both starting the plant-based journey, it is the best decision! I can’t wait to hear what you think of those potatoes, they are one of my favorite recipes!
“This was delicious. The best dinner we’ve had so far!” Exclaimed my partner after he finished his big bowl of miso glazed sweet potato goodness.
I used both orange and purple sweet potatoes and served them on a bed of quinoa & buckwheat with mixed greens, bok choy and roasted Brussels sprouts, finished with an extra drizzle of glaze.
It was simply divine!
Yay, glad to hear it!!
Thanks Brandi for sharing your story of becoming vegan with us. This is really motivational for all those who want to be vegan for some reasons. Even, Living with Vegan Diet is really good for health. I am going to share your story with my friends.
Hi Brandi,
My husband also suffers with gout and we are slowly transitioning to a plant based diet but he feels that beans and legumes bring on his gout so I feel rather limited in the kitchen. Is this the same for your husband? I’m hoping mine has got it wrong as I make a lot of bean stews/chili’s and only when he’s away!! Thanks x
Brandi,
Thank you for having the courage to share your story. Thank you for taking the time to do it. I’m so sorry for the years of debilitating pain your husband suffered and for the suffering you went through on your end. It hurt my heart to hear it. What a nightmare to endure. I’m so glad to hear about what you learned and how together you were able to largely heal his condition through diet. I am a huge believer in diet healing the vast majority of our first world ailments. My family and I are mostly vegan. I do still have my cheating moments a few times a month, like birthdays, traveling, etc. Reading this helped me realize that it’s really not worth the cost physically, emotionally, and mentally. It does tear me up silently inside for those animals and their suffering and what I know about my own health. Your article hit me to the core in a really profound, beautiful, and also difficult way and I’m grateful to you and your wisdom. I believe what you say because I have also spent years studying diet to heal my hashimotos. As far as common sicknesses go, my little family and I rarely get sick. I have extended family members who live off of dairy and are constantly bogged down by infections, congestion, sinus infections, ear infections, etc. It amazes me how sick they get! Becoming (mostly) vegan really helped me feel love and a deeper connection to all nature-even bugs, which surprised me. I feel like I am much more in harmony with how God designed me to eat and live. He loves his animals. Yes, what you have shared has impacted me and I need to make a few more changes to be even more in harmony with myself and what I feel to be true and good in my heart. Thank you, Brandi. God bless you on your journey as you continue creating recipes. I love to check your blog regularly!
Why not make the next move to PLANT BASED WHOLE FOOD (PBWF), AND SALT OIL SUGAR (SOS) FREE.
Because I don’t avoid salt or sugar. I like salt on my food, it balances out all the other flavors and I’m not sugar-free. If that works for you, great!
Love your story, I eat oil free, whole food plant based food. I also watched Earthlings and that did it for me.
You sound like me when telling your story, other than your husband having gout (mine does not), your opinions
sound just like mine, I am not sugar or salt free either. I love potatoes!.
I am looking forward to trying your recipes.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for reading the kind comment Vicki!
Thank you for your post Brandi, it is solidifying my decision to go plant based and gluten free to address my life long battle with Eczema. I’m at the point where it’s no way to live, eating dairy and meat and suffering every 2 weeks of hand eczema flare ups. Especially bc I work part time as a physiotherapist using/washing my hands all day. And a mother of 2 young boys. Thank you for your words, encouragement and recipes! I plan to try the almond pulp granola bars tonight!
Sincerely,
Jane
I’m so glad to hear how much my story resonated with you! Thank you so much for reading and your support!!
Brandi,
Thank you for being so open with your personal story! I too have transitioned to a vegan diet. This July began my journey and I haven’t looked back! I was hospitalized this year and have chronic health issues. I feel so much better!!!! It truly is amazing. I grew up eating all kinds of animal fats/dairy. My father was a huge hunter. he and my mother have had heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and stints to name a few major health issues. I too love to cook and eat. 🙂 I am grateful that I have stumbled onto your blog/website. Thank you so very much for your delicious recipes! It’s truly inspiring to a vegan newbie!!
Hi Brandi…I changed to a whole food, plant based diet on June 1, 2020. Best thing I have ever done for my health…my cholesterol numbers have dropped considerably…my doctor is vegan so she totally understood. I feel great and like you I’ve noticed a big difference in my skin and hair…oh, and I’ve dropped 28 pounds:) I just found your blog as I am always looking for vegan recipes….and I am SO happy about that!! I just subscribed and I look forward to making some of your amazing recipes. Lastly, I’m 69…will be 70 in December….I feel great!! Thank you for your time and efforts…love your blog. Connie
Hello Barndi!
I have to admit, I follow lots of vegan blogs, but yours is the first of which I have read “their story” behind the blog. Don’t be too apologetic about your story or your experience , or to step on carnivores feet by pointing out the brutality of mass factory farming. Being vegan cannot mean being on an ethical high horse, but I don’t feel the need to apologize for not supporting their unhealthy, unethical lifestyle.
With that being said, thank you for sharing in such great and vivid details the health impact of a vegan diet. What a strong woman you are!. You inspired me to eat cleaner. Thank you!
Thank you so much for reading and your kind words!