what happened to my body after transitioning to a plant-based diet

Everything takes time.

I've been living a vegan lifestyle for a while now, and while the weight loss was pretty much immediate, the other changes took a while to kick in. For example:

• While many purport that a plant-based diet leads to glowing skin, my acne and acne scars didn't like poof! ...just vanish
• My bronchitis symptoms (coughing, phlegm in chest, etc.) actually returned, but that was so that it could finally be healed
• And I still need to exercise to strengthen my muscles and rev up my system

So, now that quite a bit of time has passed, by body has begun to shift and change the way it behaves:

These are unexpected changes, too. Most recently, my senses have heightened. My nose is more sensitive than its ever been. I don't use strong chemicals to clean my place or wash clothing, so they really impact me when I smell them being used in public facilities or in someone else's home.

My sense of taste has become more sensitive as well. I admit, I do like salt, which isn't a bad thing (for me), because my blood pressure is moderately low; however, fruits, and veggies in particular, that used to be bland to me, are now quite tasty. I ate an avocado, pretty much by itself as if it were an apple or orange, and it was so flavorful to me. Even a couple months ago, I would have needed to add salt or tomatoes.

If you want to talk about a sweet tooth, I got your sweet tooth... I nothing was sweet enough for me; double chocolate, triple chocolate with fudge, double, and if they existed, triple stuffed Oreos.... I could savor it all. NOW though? No way. Becoming vegetarian and then vegan was more about weening myself off of pastries and desserts and candy bars than about avoiding meat and cheese. While the sweet tooth in me has yet to fully die, most common sugary snacks are too much for me. Even many vegan treats have too much sugar for my palate.

What's more, I can feel everything that is going on in my body. I know when I am low on protein, or iron, or sugar. I know when I need to stop eating, or when its time eat particular foods. My body has become way, way more picky now that it knows I'm providing it with nutrient dense foods.

The other day, I tried to have a vegan chocolate cupcake from Wholefoods, thinking that it was gonna be a yummy evening treat...not so at all. I had a pounding headache until 4AM! I had to stand under a hot shower & then soak until my body decided to stop chastising me.

In general, there are times when my stomach will give a lurch--even to healthy things, like bananas--when its not the right time for me to eat them. I have to listen to my body too, because when I don't I pay for it. My liver and pancreas will be pained, I'll have a distended, swollen abdomen for days... ugh, It's terrible!

Trust me, its very frustrating when you're hungry or craving certain foods--psychologically at least--and can't eat them. However, I trust my body now. it knows what it's doing. In the midst of that trust, I've had to learn and let go of some things:

1. There is no set amount of calories we have to take in per day. While on a plant based diet, you don't need to be concerned as to whether you ate too much, or too little, in terms of calories. What matters most is that when you eat, you feel satisfied and comfortable. 
2. When in doubt, drink (detox) water. If your head hurts, drink water. When your back hurts, drink water, When your tummy hurts, drink water. Water is the first solution. Detox water simply means adding lemon, lime, oranges, ginger or apple cider vinegar to your water.
3. If you stick with a plant based diet, there are some foods you won't be able to eat anymore. This is not a bad thing, unless you feel limited by it. at the moment, my body only reacts to high sugar foods. I don't have problems with soy, wheat, corn, or any other common allergens. I prefer to be one with nature, so I dabble with these foods (in their organic forms) to continue to be one with them. I want to be healthy, but I don't want to build up so much resistance that I can't partake in a social situation in which there is some yummy wheat bread, for example. Perhaps this will change, but I am a social creature, and for now I want to still participate in life experiences with people that include eating cooked foods, etc. every once in a while

There might be more, but those are the big three for me at the moment. 

As this blog allows you to assume, I like to communicate and share ideas. If you want to talk more about your food experiences, comment below or reach out at awakenedkitchen@gmail.com!

Eat to live and to thrive!