Jo has never felt happier and healthier since she went vegan. Meatless Movement recently had a chance to chat with her. She shared with us that being plant based is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy gut and therefore significantly reduce the likelihood of disease, inflammation and aging.

It’s the best change I’ve ever made.
@forty.year.old.vegan

Tell us more about yourself please

I’m Jo, I live in Melbourne Australia and am a mum to three boys – 21, 19 and 17 – and our new toy cavoodle Harley. The things I love I’m really passionate about – reading, eating, exercising, travel and my one vice is champagne. My family and friends are my world.

I became plant based initially after watching the documentary The Game Changers. I suffered from migraines and when I watched the documentary I was interested to learn how inflammatory meat and dairy was, so I thought I’d see if cutting both out, would help reduce both the frequency and severity of my migraines. I haven’t had one since. I also have some old sporting injuries that caused me pain, which now don’t factor at all as issues. Inflammation gone.

Slowly but surely other people in my life are taking notice
@forty.year.old.vegan

As I said above it’s the best change I’ve made for my health. I don’t force my belief or diet on anyone else, but if I have friends over now I only cook vegan and everyone loves what they eat. My two other sons are having meat and dairy free days now so I think if you do, and lead, and show what a great alternative lifestyle this is, people will see the results and be more inclined to try. I’ve told my male friends to watch Game Changers and that has also resonated with them to try meatless. Slowly but surely other people in my life are taking notice.

I’ve now officially been plant based/vegan for two years. My health is improved, I’ve lost weight without meaning to but I now sit comfortably with a healthy weight that I don’t have to watch. My hair, skin and nails are all improved. I sleep better and never feel tired or lethargic like I used to.

My second son is a type 1 diabetic and he too changed with me. He has seen so many benefits and is also much healthier as a result. We eat a varied diet so that we get lots of different plants, herbs, spices and fruits everyday, and we experiment a lot with different recipes. My two other sons and many of my friends have started to have meat free days as a result of seeing my changes too. I rarely ate carbs before changing – I was high protein low carb and deprived myself of most of my favorite things – pasta, rice, potatoes, bread…not anymore. I eat whatever I want now and thoroughly enjoy food again.

Vegan doesn’t mean boring or tasteless. It’s exciting and enjoyable and really satisfying
@forty.year.old.vegan

Initially we tried a lot of the vegan “meat substitutes” like schnitzel and sausages etc. Now we don’t use many of these at all aside from an occasional burger patty. As I said above, we experiment a lot with new vegan recipes and always use a lot of different colors and we make it fun. It’s so easy to throw together a healthy pasta or curry if you have a well stocked fridge/pantry.

We are always trying new recipes at home but some of the most basic are the tastiest. Here are some of my favorites: Thai red curry Ramen, Lasagne, roast potatoes, rainbow salad, breakfast granola, roast potato salad, broccoli pasta.

BROCCOLI, PINE NUT AND SUNDRIED TOMATO LINGUINI

Eating out is getting easier in Melbourne too. Most places now have good vegan options that extend beyond fries, so I haven’t found any issues there. There are also many beautiful vegan restaurants in Melbourne now too. My favorite restaurants in Melbourne are @smithanddaughters @transformerfitzroy @_lonamisa_ to name a few.

I’m looking forward to be able to travel again now that we are coming out of Covid to try vegan meals in other parts of the world. Our supermarkets have also upped their game with vegan choices which is a credit to the change they see happening. It’s exciting.

If that doesn’t sway you, I don’t know what will
@forty.year.old.vegan

Since becoming a vegan I’ve also started studying nutrition. It’s so interesting to see how a varied healthy vegan diet ties in with good gut microbiome and overall improved health. Our gut is the equal most important part of our body. It regulates pretty much everything that we do and is responsible for producing 70% of our hormones. Being plant based/vegan is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy gut and therefore significantly reduce the likelihood of disease, inflammation and aging. I’ve also changed everything I use to vegan – shampoo, cleaning products, skin care – with really great results. I also fast 16:8 daily to make sure I’m doing everything I can to stay healthy and young for as long as possible. Fasting and veganism are a brilliant partnership for overall health.

The iconic botanical gardens walk, Melbourne

Sustainability now means something and I do whatever I can to be a greener citizen
@forty.year.old.vegan

Some people would not be able to go cold turkey for want of a better phrase, so just starting with one vegan day a week would be a good way to start the process. And I’d also recommend they slowly but surely transition.

I’m also more concerned about the environment now than I ever was prior to changing to a vegan lifestyle. Sustainability now means something and I do whatever I can to be a greener citizen. And then there’s the animals of course…

Check out my IG and you’ll see that vegan doesn’t mean boring or tasteless.