10 Reasons This is Your Year to Become a Plant-Based Powerhouse

Edited version of a previous post

Plant Powered

Where are you?  Where do you want to be?  It's important to keep asking ourselves these questions so that we can learn and grow.  Life is all about growth...you feel me?  

It's time.  Time to take control of your life, your health, your decisions.  The time is right now.  No more excuses.  

Imagine yourself leaner, lighter, full of energy, possibly, medication-free...it is POSSIBLE!

It's time to start a competition with yourself... what is the only diet: proven to reverse disease, to have the leanest people, to create energy and vibrance?! Yup, you guessed it, the plant-based diet and guess what? This is the time! 2017 has been declared #theyearofvegan!!

​So, I'm going to help you start the competition with yourself and give you 10 reasons why this is your year to become a plant-based powerhouse!!

"The Food You Eat  Can Either Be
The Safest
&
The Most Powerful
Form of Medicine
Or
The Slowest
​Form of Poison"

1. Healthier You- A whole foods plant-based diet has been scientifically proven to prevent and reverse disease. “Many of the scourges of modern living might be prevented, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, Crohn’s disease, gallstones, kidney stones, diverticulosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and vaginal infections.” A whole foods plant-based diet includes all the nutrients you need to be your healthiest without all the bad stuff!
2. A Happier You- I've discussed the link between our gut and our brain in a previous post, but it's worth mentioning again. We have trillions of bacteria living in our bodies and we all must live in harmony. It's a wild love affair; You and Bacteria sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G… When there is even the slightest imbalance in our gut there is a direct impact on our mental health. Your gut flora not only affects your physical health, but also has a significant impact on your brain function and mental state. You need to live happily-ever-after with all those good bacteria; therefore, we need to nurture them with a high-fiber, fruit and vegetable rich diet and eliminate processed, refined foods and animal products. It’s important to note that you have neurons both in your brain and your gut -- including neurons that produce neurotransmitters like serotonin. In fact, the greatest concentration of serotonin, which is involved in mood control, depression and aggression, is found in your intestines, not your brain! Say, what?!
3. Save the Planet- Eating a plant-based diet is the biggest contribution you can have to creating a healthier you AND PLANET!! Animal agriculture is the LARGEST contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, more than the exhaust of ALL TRANSPORTATION MODES COMBINED!! Animal agriculture is also a leading cause of land and water use, deforestation, wildlife destruction, and species extinction. About 2,500 gallons of water is needed to produce just one pound of beef in North America. If you were vegan for just ONE day, you would save 1100 gallons of water, 30 square feet of forest, and 20 pounds of CO2!! Go on, my little mentee, save the world!!!
4. You'll Be Popular- All the cool kids are doing it—Flo Rida, Ariana Grande, Al Gore, Natalie Portman, Joaquin Phoenix, Tobey Maguire, Shania Twain, Alicia Silverstone, Kristen Bell, Anne Hathaway, Carrie Underwood, Ellie Goulding, Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Jared Leto, Emily Deschanel, Olivia Wilde, Ellen Degeneres….even if you don't want to be like a celebrity; you can join me and my club of Awesome Plant-Powered-Peeps (not officially a club...yet;)
5. You'll Be Sexy...er- Vegans tend to be leaner than their meat-eating counterparts weighing, on average, 20 pounds less. What's sexier than a healthy body? (rhetorical question, DUH!) Add in the fact that vegans are a compassionate bunch...DAYUMMM, that's SEXY!! AND a little side note for my male audience: the cholesterol and saturated fat found in animal products clogs ALL arteries, impeding blood flow to all, ahem, vital organs!
6. End World Hunger- It takes up to 13 pounds of grain to produce just 1 POUND of animal flesh! Hmmmm...math question: which could feed more people; 1 pound of beef or 13 pounds of grain?!?! You don't need to be a mathematical genius to answer that one! A world filled with vegans means more food for everyone!
7. Meat is Nasty- PETA explains it best with this infographic!​

ewww

8. Plant-Based Food is Delicious- What kind of foods do you eat regularly? Pasta? Pizza? Burgers? Fries? All of these can be made using whole food plant-based ingredients! All of the flavor comes from the herbs and spices being used which makes it so easy to make savory, delicious plant-based dishes. If you are looking for a resource, a great place to start is by signing up for our email list and we will send you 50 recipes for easy and delicious plant-based snacks!
9. Animals are Amazing- You love your dog and/or cat so much, right? They are so smart and loving, right? Pigs can learn to play video games and have far more emotional intelligence than a dog. A chicken is so smart its intelligence is comparable to a monkey's, according to scientists. There is no difference between your household pet and a farm animal...they all have superior intelligence, emotional capabilities, and the same RIGHT TO LIFE!
10. Save Money- You work hard for your money; why waste it on expensive foods that are poisoning your body! The cheapest cuts of meat are $3+ a pound. Rice, beans, lentils, and pasta are less than $1 a pound...no brainer, right?! Vegans, on average, save over $750 a year compared to meat eaters. What could you do with an additional $750?!

The time is right now! This is your year to become a healthier, happier you! I gave you 10 great reasons so no excuses. Are you ready to be healthier, happier, sexier….are you ready to save the planet, animals, money AND end world hunger?! Basically, you are a superhero in the making...are you ready for the challenge?!

As always, if you need any help in your journey email me or comment with your questions, concerns, and/or criticism...I'm ready for it all!!

Peace, Love, Plants,
Cristy