Why I went vegan

Eighteen months ago I decided to drop meat and diary from my diet - in short, follow a vegan diet. It was not necessarily a decision based on me wanting to save the planet, but out of curiosity about the effect it would have on my body.

It was also brought about by tracking changes in my body over the years through full annual medicals. And

Going vegan has given me more mental and physical energy, everything you need for a long open-water swim.

changes to my diet over the years.

In the two years prior to my decision to drop animal products, there has been a dramatic increase in my uric acid levels. Uric acid is the result of purines found in most food types. While most uric acid is passed through the body, some purines are tougher and result in uric acids not being passed. A build-up of uric acid in the body can lead to joint inflammation and pain; and, in many instances, rheumatoid arthritis.

My cholesterol has been mostly high throughout my adult life. My GP, whom I've been seeing for 21 years, has never really been concerned about it and never saw the need for medication. What I needed to do was try change the profile of my cholesterol - that is, the good and bad cholesterol.

My first attempt changing this profile was successful thanks to me following a banting diet for about three years. It does sound counter-intuitive - stuffing yourself with full cream diary products and loads of fatty meats - but it changed my cholesterol profile for the better and even brought overall levels down by 0.5 points.

As much as banting worked for me, I don't think it did me any favours when it came to uric acid.

"You need to cut down on meat and get more veggies into your body," I said to myself about 18 months ago. I was also at a point in my physical training that my body was screaming out for a healthier diet. Not one where a few lamb chops every day would suffice.

My intention was to ease into it and start reducing my meat intake and then start weaning myself off dairy.

Well, my transition happened sooner than I planned and within days I was off all animal products. I thought I'd try a piece of meat the following weekend and managed only one mouthful.

My next challenge was breakfast. My beloved bacon... passed that test. And fried eggs ... no more. All this within 10 days.

One animal product I have decided to not give up is honey. Oh! And I'm not too concerned about the bit of egg used in wine. For the sake of purists out there, I know that in your books this makes me neither plant-based nor vegan. (And I have no problem with that.)

The advantages I have felt over the past 18 months of being plant-based include a consistent body weight and lower body fat. My cholesterol profile improved even further and there has been another small drop in my overall count. My uric acid levels remain "elevated" (that's the word the medical people use) but, besides meat, there can be more contributors to that, including alcohol. (I like wine!)

Mental energy have slightly improved, and in the first three months my triathlon training improved my overall swim/bike/run performance.

With the pandemic putting a stop to many sport events, over the past 18 months I have completed two half-distance triathlons, one longer distance, an 8-km swim, and covered hundred of kilometres in training on the bike and on runs.

A good South African braai still smells good!