Be Different

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Photo “One of these birds is not like the others” by Heather Paul courtesy of Flickr.

I’m different.

But that’s ok – because I choose to Be Different.

I’m that round peg that doesn’t quite fit in the square hole.

I’m the rebel, that ‘weird vegan guy’ who doesn’t eat meat.

I’m the troublemaker who makes sure there’s always a veggie dish at the company BBQ.

I work nights, and sleep days and I prefer my Mac over a PC.  I don’t watch sports either, or follow the latest video games.

Instead I stare at vegan recipes, searching for that next viral post for my blog.   And while others are comparing their latest techie gadgets, I’m chatting with someone across the country on the crazy things you can do with chickpeas.

I get it.  I’m not like you

But I used to be.  

The Road Less Traveled

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

You see years ago I too came to a split in the road, just like in the poem.

I was not exactly in the best of health.   I was overweight, smoked, had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and was approaching my 50’s.  Time felt like it was running out.

Now I could have taken the well beaten path like everyone else.  Do nothing and wait for the inevitable heart attack, or go see my doctor for my daily dose of Lipitor.  After all, this is exactly the path that millions of American’s will take this year.

They’ll take the pills, and have the stents, and be laid up unable to work for weeks on end as their medical bills slowly dissolve their savings.  And that’s if they’re lucky enough to have insurance, or to have any savings at all.

And afterwards, they’ll continue to eat their fried chicken, and bacon, and BBQ, and triple cheeseburgers, and never think twice about their next hospital visit.

Until it comes.

And isn’t it just a little strange that we as American’s spend more money on healthcare than any other country in the world, but are nowhere near the healthiest?  In fact we are way down on the list when it comes to health as a nation.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

But I learned something years ago, that changed my whole direction.

I see things totally differently now, and as the poem goes – that has made all the difference.

Your FOOD CHOICES are Important

Just about every single major health condition we have today – whether it’s heart disease, or diabetes, or obesity, or even cancer…..  are all associated with what we put on the end of our forks.

And sadly, our doctors don’t know this.  Because it’s not required in medical school, most doctors know very little about nutrition.  They do know how to treat symptoms with this pill or that one.  And some are experts at cutting you open and removing this organ or bypassing that artery.

But food?  What does that have to do with anything?

Well I’m here to tell you – everything!  

The research and clinical studies that prove a plant-based vegan diet is the best diet for your health have been out for years.

And to be fair, there are some doctors who know this information.  And slowly, ever so slowly, more and more doctors are looking into this data and coming to the same conclusions.  There’s not many yet, but their number is growing.

Doctors like Dr Caldwell Esselstyn and Dr. Dean Ornish, who actually reversed heart disease in patients who were given up for dead, just by changing their diet.  Doctor’s like Dr John McDougall and Dr Neil Barnard who have successfully reversed diabetes and a number of other conditions.

I learned, years ago, that food does matter, and so right then and there I chose the road less traveled.

The road to a whole foods, plant-based, vegan diet.

And the result?  My blood pressure is down, my cholesterol is down, and my weight continues to drop.  I’m probably healthier now than I was in high school.

Just my changing the foods that I eat.

I don’t take any medications.  I’ve never had surgery.  In fact, I’ve never been in a hospital other than to visit others.

But as a licensed medical responder during my previous job, I saw the diabetes, and the kidney stone and gall stone attacks.  I saw the high blood pressure and the diverticulitis.

And now sadly at home, I see first hand with my daughter just what the effects of an unhealthy diet can be, as she battles her Crohn’s Disease.

So I CHOOSE to be different!

And if that makes me a crazy one – then so be it.

My health matters.

No, I’m not out to change the world, but if I can help heal myself and my family, then that will have made all the difference in the world.  My world anyway.

You can do this too.  Make a difference.

Be Different.  

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The post Be Different appeared first on Brand New Vegan.