The Why Behind My Vegan Journey

by | Nov 1, 2021 | Nov/Dec 21, Nutrition, To Your Health | 0 comments

The Why Behind My Vegan Journey 

By Dennise Cortés

Throughout my life, I have encountered so many decisions to take; some were easy, and some were not. There is not a simple way to know how the future will present itself; nevertheless, my decisions have always felt right when I had strong reasoning behind them, and I could use the ‘why’ of my choices as fuel to keep me motivated and committed. This was particularly important when I chose to live a vegan lifestyle. I’ll walk you through my why’s, and maybe this can help you find yours.

When I started my training as a yoga teacher, I was introduced to the eight limbs of yoga, including the Yamas and Niyamas, the code of ethical rules to follow to live with more awareness towards my surroundings, towards others, and towards myself. Ahimsa, known as the non-harming, non-violence, or non-injuring principle, helped me question what I was putting on my plate and how those dietary choices were harming other living creatures without me even acknowledging the fact. It was shocking and made me change my lifestyle. I went through a vegetarian phase, still eating eggs and cheese only from “humanely and kindly raised” animals. Later on, I realized that I couldn’t be 100% sure about those statements and that I didn’t need them in my diet, and I was still contributing to keeping animals away from their real environment just to indulge my palate.

The next layer was the environmental impact from meat production, such as the number of resources that are needed to produce a single pound of meat, all the energy needed to process, store and deliver that pound of meat to our plates, and the pollution generated from stage one to final product. A little over 70% of all soy that is grown in the US is used to feed stock animals – all of the water and energy used to grow massive amounts of soy is not even close to feeding humans once it’s harvested.

Nutrition is considered to be a “new and changing” science; therefore, not everything is set in stone, and new ideas and new paradigms are always available. Considering this, the idea of humans needing meat to survive doesn’t seem accurate, sustainable, and, in my personal opinion and experience, doesn’t feel true. There is a lot of research done about the benefits of a healthy and well-balanced vegan diet, information that comes from reputable doctors and experts. We all should take responsibility for our health and make informed decisions about what we are putting in our bodies. In the end, we only have one body, and it is our only true home, our sanctuary; let’s care for it!

They’re many more reasons out there to follow a healthy diet, so make sure that you find yours. Question it and read, ask and talk to others about it, because together we can enrich each other’s points of view, learn and grow to a more conscious, mindful, and aware society.

Hi, my name is Dennise Cortés. I am a yoga teacher, also certified in prenatal yoga, vegan, animal lover, and a human trying to find its path on earth and to connect with others. 

To learn more or connect with me please send me an email dennidecf@live.com.mx

and follow me on Instagram @dennisecf

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

SAWOMAN NOVDEC 2023 FC
Dr. Jenny Seger: Reversing Diabetes/Pre-Diabetes

Dr. Jenny Seger: Reversing Diabetes/Pre-Diabetes

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or with pre-diabetes? According to the CDC, 38% of adults ages 18-64 have pre-diabetes, and as many as 70% of these adults will progress on to develop diabetes in their lifetimes (based on data from the...

Discussions with Dr. Ferguson

Discussions with Dr. Ferguson

Owner of Earl E. Ferguson MD Plastic Surgery - ‘The Guy to Know in Alamo Heights’ By Lori L. Ferguson Questions were solicited from twenty-five different women of varying generations and backgrounds. What is a “Mommy Makeover,” and does it merit the hype? When is a...

Women and Diabetes: Learn the Risk Factors and How to Reduce Them

Women and Diabetes: Learn the Risk Factors and How to Reduce Them

By Paul J. Watkins Diabetes is a chronic disease that can have serious, long-term effects on a person's health. It is a contributing or exacerbating factor in a wide range of other health problems. Aaron King, MD, is a family medicine/primary care physician who...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This