I became vegan about eight years ago, primarily motivated by my own health and the health of my family. Growing up in Texas, everything was centered around food (as it should because we can throw down in the kitchen in the south). However, because of all of this good food, most of my family members have several diseases that are all food-related, such as diabetes, high-blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. They are also on several medications to control these illnesses. I was pretty much resigned to the fact that I too would need medications by the time I was 35 like everyone else I knew.

As a child, I also had several health issues. I experienced several stomach and digestive problems and underwent several treatments to try to get it under control. During all of my trips to the doctor, I was never told that my problems could be managed simply by changing my diet. I first went vegetarian, and started feeling better and more regular (sorry for the TMI, but just keeping it real). I was angry that I suffered for so long and could have had relief and a better quality of life much sooner if I had access to this knowledge. As a vegetarian, I was a big egg-eater and it wasn’t until I was introduced to Dr Sebi through a documentary about Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes, that I realized that being vegetarian was not enough.I learned just how bad eggs are for your body and cellular health. At that point, I removed eggs from my diet but did not fully become plant-based.

Then, during the holiday season in 2012, I was overeating and feeling sluggish and decided that I wanted to try this whole vegan thang for 90 days starting that New Year’s Eve. Eventually though, I planned to transition back to being a vegetarian. Being the “all-in” thorough woman that I am, I wanted to do all the research I could to ensure that I wasn’t accidentally getting any non-vegan foods accidentally. Through YouTube University, I learned about the cruelty that happens to male baby chicks in the egg industry and all the hormones in dairy and there was no way in good conscience I could go back. I have been vegan ever since.

Cametria Hill’s book is available for purchase: A Southern Girls Guide to Plant-Based Eating: Recipes from the Vegan Soul That Won’t Make You Go Broke.