My WHY - Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB)
It’s been long overdue for a post like this but I’ve finally decided to share my journey on a public platform of how I became plant based/vegan. I slowly started my transition back in 2016 and for the longest time, I’ve been questioned (and not in a nice way), joked about, or mocked for doing what I do. I used to get very frustrated and defensive about this topic but I’ve learned to be less reactive than I used to be, and really just come from an educational perspective to share my experience in hopes to spark a little thought in someone’s head to begin to see how we can all take steps to achieving better health, help sustain our environment, and happier living. I’m not here to force anyone to take the all or nothing approach but even just 1 meal a day or 1 day a week of no meat/dairy can make such a big difference.
So why am I plant based? I can seriously talk about this for days, so this might be very long-winded. To make it more digestible let me tell you the top 3 reasons in bullet points and if you are up for it, a longer story below that.
Personal Health - It is the most sustainable way to eat and easiest way to obtain all macronutrients and micronutrients (if you do it correctly). It reduces inflammation in the body, prevents chronic diseases, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. It is also published (but masked over by marketing from the meat and dairy industry) in medical journals as a way to reverse certain chronic diseases.
Environmental Sustainability - Animal agriculture is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It is the leading cause of deforestation - pollution of streams, rivers, and the coastal ocean from waste and manure, nitrogen pollution (caused by agriculture feeds). About 15% of global GHG is from livestocks (pretty much equivalent to the emissions from all transportation from cars, boats, planes, and trains). In 2013, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) stated “More than half of the U.S. rivers are unsuitable for aquatic life”. Can you even imagine how it is now? And also, where are your “fresh fish” coming from? Again, this is all because of America’s obsession with meat and dairy.
Animal Rights and Moral Values - I truly love animals and personally do not want to contribute to animal abuse whether it is my own fur baby, wild life, or factory animals that are mistreated and force fed or injected by steroids and hormones just so they can be slaughtered and eaten by humans. And I sure do not want those extra hormones and antibiotics in my body.
The long-winded version - A little background about me
I was born in Taipei, moved to Hong Kong when I was 3, then immigrated to Toronto with my mom at the age of 7. I moved to California when I was in my teens, and I’ve pretty much spent my entire adulthood in San Francisco. Moving around as a child, adapting to a different environment and society, and traveling whenever I can has taught me to be very open-minded while sticking to my roots. While I was brought up in the Western culture, I was still living under Eastern influence, and for me, it has always been a battle of identity, culture, forming habits, fitting in, and figuring the heck out what is really good for me.
What I’ve noticed in my adult years is that I am more drawn to my ethnic background and realizing that a lot of the practices that I stand for, whether it is in medicine, nutrition, mental health, or environmental issues are leaning more towards the Eastern culture way of life. What really changed my way of thinking about food and how it impacts our environment was reading the book “The China Study'' back in 2015. It gave me a whole new perspective on health and diets. It opened my eyes to the food industry and their interests.
I’ve always been very curious and experimental with my body, especially health and performance related, probably because 1. I grew up dancing, running track, and swimming 2. I cared a little too much about how to be skinny by trying different diets which led me to an eating disorder in my teens 3. I witnessed how an eating disorder took my cousin’s life while I was going through it myself 4. I entered a fitness competition to see how low I could get my body fat percentage down to, and then lost my period for almost 2 years 5. I developed pancreatitis because of an overconsumption of meat protein (when I did a bunch of yo-yo dieting)... honestly the list can go on and the sad part is, I’m sure many of you can relate to my struggles to try to be “healthy” and “fit”.
My constant journey toward “Health” is why I've dedicated my career to helping others to get to their optimal health and sustain it. Trust me when I say, I’ve done it all and since I’ve been whole foods, plant based (AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO DO IT CORRECTLY), I’ve never felt mentally and physically better, more energized, consistent, and happier. That doesn’t mean I don’t love my Salt & Straw ice cream from time to time, but finding my non-negotiables and doing my best to figure out what aligns with me is the most important. I truly am not here to suggest you turn 100% plant based/vegan overnight, but just being closer to that side of the scale can benefit you so much! I have spent years and years studying and being in the Health and Wellness space. I studied Kinesiology in school and completed multiple nutrition courses and certifications, researched and read a lot of books and materials to feel confident in what I preach. The most recent program I dove into is by Dr. T. Colin Campbell (full circle >> the biochemist/professor that wrote the book “The China Study”) on Plant Based Nutrition. It is the most knowledgeable and evidence-based program I have ever been a part of. Truth is, you can get all the nutrients you need from a whole foods, plant based diet without killing our planet and contributing to the unethical ways of animal farming. I hope in time, people will learn how to eat better, re-educate and shift the paradigm, and stop the cycle of fad diets. Remember that it is okay to evolve and change the way you do things, especially when we have an abundance of resources right at our fingertips.
If you are interested in learning more or working with me 1-1 or in a small group, please contact me below
Look out for my post next Thursday (5/12) on more resources you need to start your plant based journey!
**Let me just reiterate, there is no one size fits all plan when it comes to eating or exercising and this is where I come in and can help to figure that out. Please research and make your own decision according**
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