VegFest and Daryl Hannah

Barb and Daryl Hannah

Check out Daryl Hannah's very cool blog 

This past weekend I attended VegFest Michigan. The headline speaker was Darryl Hannah, who spoke extemporaneously about the many reasons to be vegetarian and try to live a sustainable life style.  She is a very articulate and inspiring speaker.  It is beneficial to our bodies and the planet to eat less meat and consume less fossil fuels.  Ms. Hannah is living off the grid by using solar power and biofuels. Her philosophy is "Love Life".   Being as kind and compassionate as you can has its own reward. It is not easy for people to totally give up a way of eating that has been practiced for centuries by our families and culture, but science shows that better health does result from eating a plant based diet.

Michigan VegFest was attended by thousands of people right here in the heartland of America. More people are becoming aware of living a healthy, compassionate, and sustainable lifestyle. Each year our numbers grow and many corporations are changing to accommodate our wishes (and get our business). Change is happening from the grass roots level and I feel encouraged.

Link to dhlovelife.com

Trying To Go Vegan ♡

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

My husband and I have been (mostly) vegetarian for many years. Recently, we saw Dr. Sanjay Gupta interview President Bill Clinton on CNN about his battle with heart disease. Clinton is currently following a diet recommended by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, which is designed to prevent and actually reverse heart disease.  

This diet is totally plant based, or vegan. Dr. Esselstyn also discourages eating nuts, avocados and oils such as olive oil.  We bought the book and our family is now vegan when we eat at home. We are slowly losing weight and feeling very healthy.  This diet change was easier for my husband who is a very disciplined and focused person. I occasionally succumb to gastronomic temptation, especially when a Thanksgiving turkey is presented to me!   After many years of being lacto-ovo vegetarians, we became aware that we needed to cut eggs and cheese out of our diet for health reasons. 

I hope that more people will do their best to cut down on the unhealthy foods that are so prevalent in America. It is very hard to make these fundamental changes to one's diet. Food is wrapped up with many strong emotions: love, memories, pleasure, not to mention taste!  Taking small steps towards more healthy eating and getting more exercise is a good plan. A more plant based diet not only helps us individually, but it helps the health of our planet. Raising beef, poultry and commercial fishing practices are depleting resources around the globe as well as causing more pollution that contributes to climate change.