Benefits of a Plant Based Lifestyle

T-Shirt I designed in Zazzle Store-JulieArtwork


The benefits of a plant based lifestyle are so much fun! And, accordingly, completely healthy for you! It’s the year 2020 and people are now aware, more than ever, that eating whole food plant based is a great thing! There are now so many wonderful inspirational documentaries available for breakthroughs to great health.

Much more energy!

When you incorporate mostly or solely plants into your body, you begin to feel an entirely different aura within yourself. Your mood elevates, and you start to feel happier about everything. Any negativity decreases, and you don’t feel like sleeping anymore during the day. The days of eating plates full of highly processed foods and taking naps is over. Here you will find a great article regarding energy, by Olivia Petter.

Weight Gain or Loss

Consuming dead animal carcasses and animal by products ravages your health and your mind. I used to scarf down plates loaded with processed and extremely unhealthy foods.

  • Pigs *pork chops *bacon *pigs feet *spare ribs *ham *pork roast *hotdogs
  • Cows *burgers *steaks *prime rib *chuck roast *cow tongue(yes…even cow tongue.) *skirt steak *brisket
  • Calves *creatively called veal for marketing purposes…….uggh. To think I used to eat baby cows makes me gag. Actually, this whole list disgusts me as I write.
  • Chicken *livers *hearts *legs *breast *wings *claws *gallbladders I was taught at the age of 7 to slice chickens throats, hold them upside down, until they bled out, and then boil and butcher them.
  • Duck *legs *breast *wings
  • Geese *legs *breast *wings
  • Frogs *frog legs
  • Rabbits/Squirrels *I was taught how to shoot them with a 12 gage gun at an early age to make soup.
  • Dairy *cheese *sour cream *cream cheese *cows milk *goats milk *butter *margarine *yogart *ice cream

Eggs *eggs from various poultry

And also…..

On top of that, I regularly consumed junk food packaged neatly in pretty wrappings loaded with harmful chemicals. Ingredient lists were so long, many of the items were unrecognizable. The best foods are the foods that don’t have an ingredient list! One of the most informative documentaries I’ve seen is entitled, “Foods That Cure Disease” (2018) featuring Craig McMahon and major authorities regarding plant based foods. You can rent it on Amazon Prime Videos for 99 cents, or it’ll hopefully be on Netflix soon.

Original photo by skeeze of Pixabay

As a result of watching this film, my partner Wayne and I made the plant based lasagna created by Craig McMahon just last night. Unbelievably, it was by far, the best tasting lasagna we ever enjoyed. A photo of this wonderful dish is below.

So, after years of ongoing research into plant based foods, and incorporating them into my diet, I lost almost 100 pounds. Furthermore, if you need to gain weight, the following documentary is an excellent example of vegan athletes that have prospered. It’s called the “Game Changers” and you can view it on Netflix.

Now, I no longer feel guilty about consuming a plate full of dead grey tortured animals. Feeling joy with every single bite, is phenomenal for the mind.

Better Complexion

Indulging in plants practically eliminates inflammation in your body. Consequently, this reduces infection and allows rashes and sores to dissipate. Unfortunately, I personally don’t have any photos of myself to prove it to you, but my skin cleared up dramatically becoming vegan. Inserted below, you can catch a glimpse of revamp of Ryan Adams.

Gas, bloating, stomach issues subside

After being on a natural whole food regimen for a short time (let’s say about one month) terrible painful gas and stomach issues subside. I can attest to this and you can view this wonderful video by Body Hub here. He explains this exact topic. You can also read the great comments underneath the video as people substantiate the benefits of veganism.

You Can Eat As Much As You Want!

There is a endless array of whole plant based foods with which you can partake. These foods are colorful, energizing and tasty. You can find an excellent video of testimonials here on the benefits. The video is called “What I Eat In A Day.” You may also view an amazing extensive list of vegan friendly groceries, written by Anisha Jhaveri.

Photo by stokpic of Pixabay

Finally, it’s awesome to know you are able to eat limitless amounts of WPBF (whole plant based foods) and you won’t gain an ounce. Or, if you need to gain weight, these foods will build your muscles to become stronger than you’ve ever been.

Congrats to you if you are reading this article, considering a plant based system to develop for yourself.

Until next post, happy eating and have a GREAT DAY TODAY!

Why Do We Eat Furry and Feathered Friends?

It is the year 2019………

farm farm animals compassion furry happy
Photo by Pixabay

Is there such a thing as compassion anymore?

Yes….it’s the year 2019 and we are still eating our furry and feathered friends. Why? Think about it. We have been conditioned and programmed our entire lives to eat LIVING, EMOTIONAL BEINGS. These innocent animals are forced to live in disgusting unnatural conditions from the moment they are born. Then, after living (if that’s what you call it) they are brought to torturous and terrifying deaths. We, I suppose, don’t see their soulful eyes on our plates as we eat their dead carcasses.

cows animals animal eyes compassion
Photo by Atahualpa Caceres Primera of Unsplash

Here is the sole reason: money

It’s all a vicious horrific cycle, that continues and beyond. And the people in power KNOW they are not doing the right thing. The following is the list of the cycle.

  • Innocent animals are bred and raised.
  • Healthy and sick defenseless animals are tortured and killed.
  • Dead, decapitated, dissected bodies are packaged pretty and neatly in the grocery stores and labelled nicely with things like “pork chops,” “ham,” “bacon,” “summer sausages,” and so forth. Do you think we’d buy packages of meat labelled “This was an innocent living animal with eyes, but we chose to kill and mutilate it, so you can eat it, and we can make a ton of money off of you?” I doubt it.
  • Uninformed and programmed (I am guilty of being one of these consumers for much of my life) people purchase these dead animals for consumption.
  • These people get sick and die prematurely. They get hosts of unimaginable auto-immune diseases and other illnesses. To name a few would be cancer, diabetes type 1 and 2, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, psoriasis, and the list goes on and on.
  • Then, people face no other choice, but to go to the doctors and hospitals to get help.
  • The doctors continue to load us up with highly expensive procedures and medications. So now, we have bought the dead animals to get sick, and continue to spend all our money on medications and treatments, instead of preventing it all in the first place.
  • The hateful/murderous livestock and agriculture industry thrives. Healthcare (I call it Deathcare), doctors, lawyers, and pharmaceutical companies become ultra wealthy.
  • We, as consumers get sick and spend all our money to these companies, and continue to have an over all feeling of unwellness.

How can we change this cycle, so all living beings are happy?

happy animals compassion love peace furry feathered eat
Photo by sebpowen of Pixabay

There is so much we can do to change this terrible haunting deadly cycle. The following are things we can do:

  • Don’t succumb to wasting your money by giving it to the rich by buying dead, tortured animals with eyes products. Simply put, stay away from the meat cemeteries in grocery stores.
  • Eat as much plant based whole foods as you can. Here is one of my all time favorite websites that has millions of plant-based recipes.

It’s called “One Green Planet” and can be found by clicking here.

  • Visit factory farms to see the disgust of it all.
  • Then visit a farm sanctuary where you can pet the furry and feathered friends that you didn’t kill and consume second hand.
  • Find compassion for animals! They deserve love, as we all do.
  • Be healthy, and don’t need to go to the doctors.
  • Get off your meds by eating as much plant based as you can.
  • Watch vegan and vegetarian health documentaries. You can find an extensive list if you go to my resources page.

You can also watch “Called to Rescue,” a beautiful documentary on those who save lives.

In conclusion…………

I grew up on a farm, and I know just how difficult it is to make a change in your lifestyle and emotional health, just by eating what is healthy for you. It’s taken me almost 7 years to transition into a 99.9 percent plant-based regimen. Just try one step at a time. Instead of making chili with ground beef, try substituting the meat with Beyond meat beefless crumbles. Drink a delicious chocolate smoothie with a plant-based milk for breakfast, rather than what I call a cholesterol-filled death breakfast with bacon and eggs. It’s hard but very doable for the health of your own body and for the compassion for this world’s innocent, beautiful animals.

Living Your Best Healthy Life

best life healthy food
Image by majacvetojevic of Pixabay

Living your best Authentic Health Life

First I’d like to say, I realize this website is supposed to mainly be about artwork.  However, I think it’s important to write things about life in general.  And I think great health is paramount to be able to do the things you love most in life. 

Lately, I’ve been struggling with some health issues.  Namely, proctitis/inflamed hemorrhoids, and for the past 20 years, have dealt with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  It is an autoimmune disease which affects thousands of people annually. People have continually acquired countless illnesses, daily.   It’s no wonder pharmaceutical companies are laughing, huge checks in hand, all the way home.  They take millions of dollars from ordinary, uninformed people every year.  They live to hope you get ill, so they can sell you tons of super expensive meds at a continuous rate.

Best Healthy Living Food
Photo by Steve Halama of Unsplash

Everyone is different

As a reader of this site, you know I used to be a very heavy meat, dairy and egg eater.  I had endless health issues.  To name just a few:  hypothyroidism, hashimoto’s thyroiditis, sciatic nerve in  legs, cramps, anal fissures, proctitis, constipation, undying fatigue, etc.  So, I’ve been on meds for high blood pressure and thyroid issues for a very long time.  

So, I’m here to say, I’ve experienced so many of the same illnesses that millions of people currently have.  But, everyone is different, and should be eating what is best for YOUR body’s needs.  It is my desire to help those suffering, by eating the correct medicine to restore your health.  And ultimately, thrive.  Not just survive with a general feeling of “un-wellness” your whole life, like me.

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Photo by Rakicevic Nenad of Unsplash

Researching, testing, re-testing

As you know, I went full-fledged vegan in August of 2017, after struggling for so many years.  I’ve been saying “plant-based” ways of eating are highly recommended.  And I still believe this is true, for the most part.  However, after recently being diagnosed with proctitis, I began reviewing my food choices once again.  

I understand now, different people need to eat different food medicines for their unique issues.  Via my research, I ran across a wonderful website by Amie Valone, called The Healthy Apple.  I relate to her, as she, just as I, have been through a multitude of the same exact health issues.  

I also relate to Amie, as after 10 long years of debilitating sicknesses, she finally realized she would need to be her own advocate.  The only thing doctors were doing, was tons of invasive procedures, diagnosing diseases, and prescribing expensive drugs.  And, nothing she did, helped.  Until she started eating the right foods for her.  

I’m with her.  So…..back to the proctitis.  The doctors and GI people said I needed  yet another colonoscopy and endoscopy, immediately.  They prescribed suppositories at the ungodly rate of $8.50 per each one.  I decided right then, I was defeated and exhausted of the constant go to “yet another doctor” and get more drugs.  And, so, I began looking very very strongly at food as medicine for my specific bodily needs.

healthy  living best life
Photo by Monika Grabkowska of Unsplash

I immediately opted OUT of the procedures, and didn’t get the meds.  Instead, I started researching anti inflammatory foods.  It startled me, that almost all autoimmune diseases prosper from foods that inflame.  The first week, I put tumeric and ginger spice in my green tea.  For lunch, I would drink a blueberry, flaxseed, almond butter smoothie.  God, forgive me……..I also began incorporating salmon back into diet, because of it’s super anti-inflammatory benefits.  All soy and gluten products were completely out of the picture.  Just a no no, for GI problems, and Hashimoto’s.  I do NOT eat any processed foods that are loaded with artificial chemicals horrible for anyone’s body.  I try to eat as though there aren’t any grocery stores.  So, eating “earth” and “nature’s” foods are the best. 

best  healthy  living  food  health
Photo by Jared Rice of Unsplash

Within two weeks of eating almost all anti-inflammatory foods, my body was literally back to normal.  I couldn’t agree more with Amie of The Healthy Apple.  I still believe eating almost all plant-based is the way to go.  She said she eats 99.99 percent plant-based, and I think that’s where I am right now, as well.  You need to discover what exactly the foods you need for your body to be at it’s best.  Just research, research, and you will eventually land on your best health of your life.  And it doesn’t matter your age.  Eat what’s right for your ultimate health.

Hope this article was helpful to you, and until next time, have a great day!!!  

 

 

  

 

 

Do You Have A Mouse In The House?

mouse mice presents
Image by Susannp4 of Pixabay

The past few days……

The past few days, our dog Dolly has been doing some serious investigation in the kitchen.  Here is a photo of her doing just that.

mouse dog kitchen present
Our dog Dolly doing an investigation

We kept hearing tiny little scratching noises, and wondered if it might be a mouse.  Our other dog Joe really wasn’t interested in doing all the work.  But, Dolly’s Blue Tick Coon Hound nose was more than sufficient to seek out our secret little intruder.  

The plight of the fries

So,  my significant other baked up a huge batch of french fries.  Crunchy on the outside, and warm, soft and tender on the inside.  He let them cool under the light on the stove top while we continued watching the series Nurse Jackie.  

Then it happened…….

The mouse waited patiently until both our dogs were quietly snoozing.  We heard a little noise, and looked into the kitchen.  The little guy was perched up on the edge of the pizza pan like the edge of a diving board.  Standing, he clutched a long french fry upright in his tiny little fingers.  Our little buddy gnawed every savory bite like this stuff is way better than peanut butter!!   We appropriately named our new hungry friend, Ratatouille.

No kill zone

Before becoming vegan,  I used to get the traps, and sprays and all that other toxic stuff.  Now I am committed to making our home, a no kill zone.  There are lots of ways to deter little creatures without killing them.  Just google it and you’ll find tons of ways.  Mice can be prevented easily by peppermint oil, and or pepper.  And keeping your home relatively clean helps a lot too.  Looking back, I now think, “Who would want to kill these cute little emotional animals with magical pink ears?”  

Hoping you enjoyed this article, and until next time, have a beautiful day!