SHARAN

16 year old Urvashi Satwani shares her impulsive but inspiring journey towards health!

It was the 12th day of August in 2015, when I took one of the most impulsive and important decisions of my life: turning vegan

(for those of you who don’t know, vegans are those who abstain from consuming any animal products; be it meat, dairy or fish)

I hopped out of the bathroom (that’s where all important life decisions are made, aren’t they?) and announced that I was turning vegan! My mum and brother definitely didn’t see that coming and thought that I was joking. Not going to blame them, I grew up in the typical North Indian family who loved butter and ghee with their parathas, masala chai thrice a day, papad with curd and obviously, paneer (every vegetarian family’s holy grail). However, the following night, we went to eat at this Italian restaurant, and I did not touch the pizza or the cheesy ravioli. And this was when my family knew that this was for real, me following a completely plant-based diet.

I couldn’t be happier. I have hardly craved anything which I cannot eat since that day, mostly because vegan food DOES NOT taste bad. Before turning vegan, I associated myself with those kind of people who couldn’t swallow the fact that there were people who lived without gulping down a glass of milk every morning, who didn’t eat toast with butter and who voluntarily stopped eating paneer! But really, it’s not hard at all, you would learn once you’ve actually begun on the journey.

Reasons why I’m vegan

1. Animal Exploitation: My aunt showed me this video that turned her vegan, about how cows were treated in dairy farms. I was shaken. Dairy farming have become so commercialized right now that dairy farmers have forgotten that cows are beings that feel pain. I was so upset after watching the video that I couldn’t look at milk and curd the same way again. (to watch one :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u80_IrSILI4 )

2. Environmental Concerns: After I turned vegan, I started reading and I learnt how forests are cleared to make way for grazing grounds and dairy farms. I came across astounding facts like how livestock agriculture contributes 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions and how 2,500 gallons of water are used to produce 1 pound of beef. (to read more: http://www.cowspiracy.com/facts/)

3. Health reasons: Turning vegan helps you to shed those extra pounds and vegans are less likely to develop diseases.  Furthermore, my nails have become stronger and my hair has been growing healthily too, when they usually don’t grow too long. (to read more: http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/19/57-health-benefits-of-going-vegan/)

When I was a child, I believed in Santa Claus, because that’s what my parents told me. But one Christmas in 2010, I found out that the person who has been slipping gifts under my pillow on Christmas Eve was my mum, not Santa. And I was devastated. So here’s the truth, just like how Santa doesn’t exist, WE ARE NOT MEANT TO DRINK COW’S MILK.  We humans have the tendency to regard what is passed from generations to generations as the fundamental truth without questioning. It has been a custom to drink cow’s milk. But are we really meant to drink it?? And is it that good for our bones?

You too can share your story and inspire others!!! Just send in your details and picture to info@sharan-india.org

A study done by Nobel prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn found that a vegan diet caused more than 500 genes to change in three months, turning on genes that prevent disease and turning off genes that cause cancer, heart disease and other illness.

Peanut Curd Recipe

Peanuts are legumes which contain a good amount of calcium. And it’s super easy to make peanut curd with brown rice, another great source of calcium! Also this curd doesn’t curdle at all and can be kept in the fridge for ten days! (If you want to learn how to make Peanut-Rice Milk, click here)

Calcium Conciousness

Most people who turn Vegan are often bombarded with questions like "What about your calcium?" This is only natural way because world over people have been brainwashed into thinking that Milk is important for calcium. If that be the case, why is Osteoporosis common and why are people advised calcium supplements?

Just make sure, you have these 8 super calcium foods as a part of your diet and you are calcium sorted!

1. Green Leafy Vegetables – Smoothies anyone?

2. Sesame seeds – Sprinkle into your smoothies, salads and vegetables!

3. Fruits – The ones rich in calcium are Figs, Dates, Grapefruit, Pineapple and Avocado

4. Nuts – Almonds, Pistas and Walnuts (don’t forget the 10 nuts a day rule!)

5. Legumes – Peanuts!

6. Garlic

7. Oats

8. Brown Rice

Food For The Mind

‘’If you eat with awareness, then you cannot eat more than what is needed by the body. People go on coming to me and they say, "Put us on a diet. My weight is increasing, the body is constantly hoarding. Put us on a diet." I tell them, "Don’t think of a diet. Think of consciousness. By dieting nothing will happen. You cannot do it. You will do it one day and the next day it will go. You cannot continue. Rather, eat with awareness."

The quality changes. If you eat with awareness, you will chew more. With unconscious mechanical habits, you simply go on pushing things into your stomach. You are not chewing at all, you are just stuffing. Then there is no pleasure and because there is no pleasure you need more food in order to get the pleasure. There is no taste, so you need more food. – OSHO, Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, Vol.2