How Becoming Vegetarian Has Improved My Overall Wellbeing

A drastic transition in diet may not be easy, but it will be beneficial. I've been a vegetarian for about one year, and I couldn't be happier with the results and the overall lifestyle that comes along. Switching to a plant-based diet means cutting out meat completely, not to be confused with being vegan, which is cutting out animals and animal byproducts. Let's dig into some more detail!

Major immediate benefits that I noticed:

1. I felt more energetic throughout the day.

Almost immediately after switching over, I noticed myself having higher energy levels that lasted throughout my entire day. Before I switched, after every meal, I would feel tired from my food which is the opposite of what food is supposed to do! My meals left me feeling lighter and nourished rather than heavy or weighed down.

2. I had better digestion!

A lot of my friends struggle with digestive issues, and occasionally, I did as well. This irregular or weak gut health proves to be complicated, and you have to be wary of what you eat. I found that cutting out meat allowed me to have a regular digestive system with very few issues. Meat is heavier for the body to digest compared to fruits and vegetables. I no longer felt the need to take any probiotics or had any stomach pain after meals.

3. More stable moods.

This was a big one. I struggled with irregular moods that fluctuated throughout the day. I would be easily agitated or feel irritable. The mood irregularity paired with the low energy levels were the biggest and most drastic changes that I noticed. Not to say that I was happy 100% of the time, which is unrealistic, but it was harder for daily events to provoke me into feeling negative emotions. Fluctuations can greatly steer you off your path day to day, so the relief of these sensations felt amazing!

4. Overall healthier feeling.

Overall, I experienced greater health after my conversion. Combining the feelings of increased mood, better digestive health, and stable moods took care of a lot of the stressors that I experienced daily. When switching to being vegetarian, the bulk of my diet is made of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains. Meat substitutes are mainly soy products and even down to milk substitutes that are plant-based milks. Becoming vegetarian has increased my intake of whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. This, in itself, boosts my health immensely, and my body thanks me for it!

In summary...

All that being said, always remember to respect everyone's choice of food. Of course, this diet isn't for everyone, but based on my personal experiences, if you've ever considered cutting meat out of your diet, give it a go! A test run won't hurt anyone, and who knows, you might fall in love with the benefits. Also, vegetarian food can be so delicious! Converting introduced me to many new restaurants, and if you're a foodie like me, this is super exciting. So, go eat your veggies!