Vegan for Health, Animals and the Earth | Brooke Bussard

Starting as a young athlete, then pursuing a career in medicine, and finally spending the majority of my adult life as a personal trainer, I have been fascinated with the human body and on a quest to maximize health and optimize life. Little did I know 25 years ago that I would plow through a snowstorm of conflicting and confusing information on my path to the tranquil oasis provided by a life of whole food plant-based eating.

Following the industry norms, I encouraged clients to eat as much animal-based protein as they desired, and to supplement with the protein and calcium in yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products. I practiced what I preached and although I maintained a normal body weight, I had high blood pressure and daily excruciating episodes of abdominal pain. After a visit to a GI doctor to inquire about the mucus in my bowel movements (after ignoring the issue for years), he suggested I enroll in an experimental trial for an IBS (inflammatory bowel syndrome) drug. I opted to take the advice of my sister-in-law instead and eliminated dairy from my diet.

This marked a pivotal point in my educational process. I examined food through a different lens from that point forward. No longer did the “all foods in moderation” phrase apply. I realized that some foods are health-hindering and some are health-promoting, and I only wanted to consume the foods that would foster good health. Whole plant foods were the answer; I felt better and better as the weeks and months passed, and eventually discontinued my high blood pressure medications. The stomach aches no longer occurred, and I was filled with energy.

An amazing revelation occurred during this process. As I realized that we did not need to raise, confine, dominate, and slaughter animals for our own survival, I became increasingly sympathetic to their plight. Melanie Joy’s work on carnism (the ideology that conditions people to eat certain animals) became a significant part of my personal educational process. My awareness of the environmental impact of animal agriculture also grew. I made a decision at this point in my life to spread the word the a plant-based vegan diet is optimal for human health, animal rights, and planet Earth.