Okay, not literally.

For two and a half years, I attempted to heal my anxiety-related health issues, an ever-present ball and chain in my daily life. After consulting my doctor and only being prescribed medications that didn’t get to the root problem, I decided to pack my proverbial bags and go elsewhere. With my scrappy, part-time retail worker budget and full-time university schedule, traveling wasn’t an option. Instead, I turned to books, podcasts, and YouTube videos to explore different cultures and enlighten myself on their medicinal practices.

My journey led me (intellectually) across Asia, India, and Europe. I was shocked to discover the incredible wisdom and traditions embedded in their approaches to wellness—wisdom that often feels overlooked in the States.

Notoriously, America is a “Silver Bullet Society.”

We look for solutions that are easy, quick, and low-effort. We want to pop a pill, drink a powder, or—better yet—snack on a sugar-coated gummy and have our ailments evaporate. Obsessed with quick fixes and reliant on prescription drugs, America’s medical approach is often neither sustainable nor holistic. (The U.S. spends more per capita on prescription drugs than any other country in the world, and nearly 66% of adults take at least one prescription medication annually.[1][2])

Unveiling alternative medicine from other parts of the world was a stark contrast to the West. I found that Americans favor a cheap and fast fix to health problems, compared to many other cultures worldwide that take a slower, habit-based approach. For example, Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes balance, diet, and herbal therapy as part of lifelong health. Ayurveda in India focuses on lifestyle rhythms, digestion, and natural remedies to prevent illness [3][4]. European countries like Sweden and France emphasize moderation, community, rest, and pleasure as the best way to feel good inside and out.

Instead of herbs, foods, and lifestyle practices to prevent disease, the West often relies on medications to manage symptoms. And while U.S. doctors do practice preventive care (like screenings and vaccines), many patients still experience medicine—or “health”—primarily through prescriptions and symptom management. [5]

Now, let’s set the record straight—I’m not attempting to completely demonize Western healthcare in this article. As with most things in life, I think there is a balance and “happy medium” we should strive after. Truthfully, I probably would’ve met my end a long time ago had it not been for hospitals, antibiotics, or tetanus shots! And, I maintain that a well-thought-out supplement plan can be a beneficial addition to a healthy diet. C’mon, I love my little Vitamin C orange gummies, they’re so yummy.

However, I’d argue that maybe the American healthcare system isn’t always the best or most holistic approach to health and wellness.

After trying a myriad of medicinal practices from around the world, I’ve become a new person. Some of what I tried was life-changing, and other things…not so much. In this article (broken into three parts, covering Asia, India, and Europe), I’ve outlined which methods from each region I found highly beneficial and realistic to incorporate into my daily life. Perhaps you can try them too and see similar results! Or don’t, and just have fun learning about it all.

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Glow: Wellness Secrets from Asia

The first stop on my journey was the wonderful world of Asian wellness. Eastern countries boast some of the longest life expectancies and lower rates of chronic diseases compared to the U.S. [6] Grounded in thousands of years of tradition and increasingly supported by modern scientific evidence, there are multiple practices encouraged throughout China, Japan, and Korea that I’ve implemented in my life and found to be extremely effective.

You're not fat, you're just puffy—lymphatic drainage in TCM.

There is a strong emphasis in Eastern health systems on circulation, balance, and detoxification. The lymphatic system—made up of vessels, nodes, and organs that transport lymph (a fluid containing white blood cells, proteins, and waste products)—is essential for immune health, fluid balance, and filtering cellular debris. While Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t use the Western concept of the “lymphatic system,” it does focus heavily on moving stagnation, clearing dampness, and reducing swelling—ideas that overlap with what we now describe as lymphatic drainage. [7]

If you feel heavy, tense, and puffy, you need to try lymphatic drainage. My two favorite methods that I’ve incorporated into my daily routine are gua sha and foam rolling. Gua sha utilizes a smooth-edged tool (traditionally stone, but now sometimes aluminum or crystal) to gently scrape the skin, promoting circulation and helping reduce tension. Foam rolling has a similar effect for larger muscles—for a whole-body detox and refresh. When I first started doing all this, it felt weird. The idea was also foreign to me, as lymphatic drainage isn’t promoted in the West. Full transparency: it also kinda hurt in the beginning—my muscles and fascia were sore at first. But now, I’m hooked. My jawline and face look more “snatched” after gua sha, and nothing beats the feeling of a good foam roll to reduce tension, swelling, soreness, and inflammation after a long day.

• If you’re interested, you can buy a gua sha on Amazon here (only $5!) and follow this tutorial.

• This is the foam roller I got, and I love it. I followed the tutorial below and found it effective. The lady in the video is great at explaining how to do it!

Warm water isn’t gross, it’s healthy.

Ice water lovers, I’m sorry!

It’s widely believed in Asia that cold water and iced beverages can disrupt digestion. Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that the key to health is balance, and cold beverages are thought to weaken the digestive “fire,” affecting the spleen and stomach functions, causing bloating or poor digestion.

Ironically, I was taught something similar as a child. I’ll never forget the chilling images that flashed through my mind when my dad told me, “Drinking ice water isn’t good for you, it’ll freeze your insides!” My Dad isn’t Asian (as far as I know. . .) but he wasn’t too far off with this advice. After banning myself from cold drinks for six months last year, I noticed a real improvement in my digestion.

Now, I’ve made it a daily habit to opt for lukewarm water instead of cold, and to skip the ice in my drinks at restaurants. I still enjoy an iced coffee now and then, because I don’t hate myself. But it’s become a treat rather than the norm.

Don’t knock it till you try it; you might find lukewarm water isn’t as gross as you think!

Tea over coffee.

Out of every wellness habit I’ve adopted, this one was by far the hardest.

I was a coffee ADDICT. I love the flavor, I love the smell, I love coffee shops, and coffee ice cream, and coffee-colored clothing. For years, I couldn’t wait to go to bed just so I could wake up and make coffee in the morning. I even love that obscure, early BTS song about coffee and blasted Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter for months after it got released.

I know, it’s excessive.

But alas, research suggests that tea contains an impressive range of health benefits that coffee struggles to compete with:

• Rich in antioxidants [8]

• May reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke

• Supports the immune system

• Soothes digestion

• Supports healthy weight management

• Could help protect bone health

• May play a role in cancer prevention (evidence is mixed, but hey, what could it hurt to try!)

Asian countries boast some of the highest-quality teas in the world. It’s consumed at multiple meals throughout the day and used in ceremonies and celebrations throughout the year. I religiously began my days with strong black coffee for most of high school and all of college. However, coffee in the morning can cause energy crashes and, for some people (as in me), worsen stress, anxiety, or digestive issues. When I swapped coffee for tea, it was rough at first, but I eventually adjusted. Now, I appreciate not shaking like a washing machine every morning and not having heart palpitations or panic attacks all the time. Imagine that.

Now, I start my day with Japanese matcha or loose-leaf black tea. My gut, my skin, and my mood have never been better!

• This brand, Naoki, is my holy grail Matcha. If I go any cheaper, I can taste the quality difference. It’s ceremonial grade and ethically sourced, too!

• I love Pur’eh tea, a fermented, Chinese black tea. I haven’t tried an online brand yet (my current Pur’eh was a gift from a friend in China). I’m sure there are some good brands online, but I’d recommend buying it from an actual Chinese/Asian brand. Look in the tea aisle at your local Asian market.

• My absolute favorite tea shop in the world, located in Ann Arbor, MI, sells its loose-leaf tea online here. It is some of the tastiest and high-quality tea I’ve had, and the variety is impressive.

Fermented foods galore.

Long before middle-aged suburban Moms were brewing kombucha and gym bros were downing vats of high-protein yogurt, Eastern countries were incorporating fermented foods into their diets every single day.

Asia is home to a rainbow of fermented foods: Korean kimchi (cabbage), Chinese douchi (fermented black beans), and Japanese miso and natto (soybeans). It’s common practice to eat small amounts of these foods as a side dish or an ingredient in a larger meal. This prevents the body from becoming “overloaded” on the fermentation, but helps enrich the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria.

Thankfully, these types of foods are becoming more widely available in the US. Which means you don’t have any excuse not to at least try them!

• I’ve been purchasing Mother-in-Laws Kimchi from Meijer. I appreciate the convenience, as well as the tolerable spice level (I’m weak, okay?). I love it as a side dish at dinner, or in kimchi fried rice.

• I enjoy making miso soup; it makes miso happy! See what I did there? But seriously, this is a super easy way to incorporate fermented foods. I follow this recipe: Easy Miso Soup. Sometimes, if I’m feeling fancy, I add some rice ramen and mushrooms.

  Thanks for reading! Part 2 of this article will be out soon, so subscribe and BE READY! WOOO!!

If you want to learn more:

I’m no gatekeeper; if you want to learn more about Asian medicinal practices, check out these books and online platforms:

• The Five Elements Cookbook: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine with Recipes for Everyday Healing By: Zoey Xinyi Gong

• Heal Yourself with Traditional Chinese Medicine: Find Relief from Chronic Pain, Stress, Hormonal Issues and More with Natural Practices and Ancient Knowledge By: Lily Choi & Bess Koutroumanis

• On Instagram, @theeasternphilosophy has some great information, and I’ve learned a lot through following their page.

• She’s mainly geared toward a female audience, but @GloriaSong on YouTube offers practical, down-to-earth health and fitness advice based in TCM practices.

References:

I feel so smart and official because I’ve even included rEfRenCesS…

[1] OECD (2023). Pharmaceutical Spending. OECD Data
[2] CDC (2023). FastStats: Therapeutic Drug Use. National Center for Health Statistics
[3] NIH. Traditional Chinese Medicine: What You Need to Know. NCCIH
[4] NIH. Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. NCCIH
[5] U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Recommendations. USPSTF

[6] World Health Organization. World Health Statistics 2023. WHO
[7] National Library of Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Body Fluids. PMC
[8] Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source: Tea. Harvard

"It's like a human only living on tofu, it keeps you strong, but you're never fully satisfied.” -Edward Cullen

When I read that line in Twilight for the first time last Fall, I nodded in deep, experiential solidarity. Believe it or not, I knew exactly what that feeling was like.

Why?

No, not because I’m a vampire (or am I?).

It’s because I went vegan for a year and a half.

Throughout my college years, I was racked with multiple random, unexplained gut issues.

I’ll never forget the way my doctor’s face twisted in confusion as I listed my weird symptoms: frequent migraines, unexplained dizziness, inflamed skin, stomach aches, endless fatigue, gas, bloating. . .I went on and on. After some head tilts and blank stares, I was crowned with the diagnosis of chronic IBS. The advice I got? Pop a Tums, try migraine meds, and avoid trigger foods. Suuuper helpful. *Insert sigh.* I decided in that moment that if I wanted something done right, I’d have to do it myself. I flew into a health-freak frenzy, scouring the internet, binging Apple podcasts, and checking out every book about gut health known to mankind from the library.

In my quest, I stumbled upon a niche group of doctors and health influencers who encouraged veganism as a sure-fire way to calm the gut and heal the body. Desperate for a solution, I bought in.

The science and logic behind the vegan diet

Don’t get me wrong—it wasn’t blind obedience. I did my research. I read the books. The science seemed to make sense. I learned that whole-body health begins in the gut, where an entire ecosystem exists—the gut microbiome. This is home to thousands of different bacterial strains, which feed on fiber. And fiber comes from plants.

I did the math: more plants = more fiber = healthier microbiome = HEALED.

I was sold! Despite being a diehard meat lover since childhood and living in the Cheese Capital of the World (a.k.a., Wisconsin), I gave it all up for a shot at a healthy, healed body.

Unfortunately, my experience of veganism didn’t quite turn out to be the gut-healing nirvana I expected.

In fact, it ended up being a risky endeavor that left my body depleted of key nutrients and even sicker than before. Still, I don’t regret that season in my life at all. It became the springboard for a deeper understanding of health and nutrition. Most importantly, it taught me where true nourishment lies—in the balance.

Why I DON’T regret going vegan

Beyond simply giving me a new ability to empathize with vampires, I grew a lot through being vegan. It’s hard not to come out transformed after a year of tofu, chickpeas, and more peanut butter than any human should consume in a day.

Why is that?

1. It taught me to incorporate whole foods into my meals

Before going vegan, I hardly consumed real, WHOLE foods. I don’t mean the boujee, overpriced supermarket. I mean eating actual, from-the-earth foods in their natural state.

A whole food is a food that has been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances.

Cereal, pasta, and hot dogs used to be my go-tos. However, when I went vegan, I ditched the ultra-processed stuff and ate entire plants in their OG form. I reached for nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables for my regular meals. After doing this consistently, it became a habit. Now, I don’t even think twice about it.

Had I not gone vegan, I don’t know if I would have become a whole-foods eater

2. It opened my eyes to forgotten (and less expensive) protein sources

Like most people, I used to rely on meat as my main protein source. Unfortunately, meat—especially high-quality meat—is expensive and inconvenient to prepare. If it’s cheap, it’s probably not as nutritious. If it’s convenient (think lunch meat or beef sticks), it’s typically chemical-laden.

When I went vegan, my eyes were opened to a whole new world of protein sources that I could incorporate into my diet. Not to mention, WAY more affordable and convenient.

For example. . .

• Nuts and Seeds

• Whole Grains - Quinoa, Bulgur, Sprouted Wheat

• Tofu, Tempeh, and Soy Milk

• Beans and Legumes (Chickpeas, Lentils, Black Beans)

Despite meat, eggs, and some dairy having returned to my plate, I still rely on many of these “vegan” protein sources. My belly and bank account are both happy.

3. Cleared my skin, eased my migraines, and helped with PMS symptoms

My pre-vegan self took for granted the immense impact that food has on how we feel and look.

The night-and-day difference in my skin was straight out of The Princess Diaries makeover scene. My skin went from acne-ridden and breakout-prone to smooth and glowy within weeks of switching my eating habits. This also saved me money, since I no longer spent massively on skincare and makeup to cover my face.

Trust me, investing in internal health > investing in external looks.

The migraines that once plagued me disappeared—completely. And I’m not exaggerating. I went from having headaches daily to not even remembering the last time I had a headache. I threw out the prescription migraine drugs from my doctor. It felt great to get through the day without reaching for Tylenol or Motrin.

Finally, I noticed that when I went vegan, my bad period cramps and PMS symptoms eased significantly. This is because of the anti-inflammatory properties of vegan food, as well as the increased fiber intake, which helps eliminate excess estrogen in the body.

4. My micronutrient intake skyrocketed

Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals found in plant foods that are vital for enzyme production, hormone regulation, immune system function, bone health, and energy metabolism.

The standard American diet, which is what I ate before going vegan, is devoid of the foods that pack in these necessary nutrients. Turns out, the lethargy, dizziness, and digestion issues I had weren’t some mysterious disease—they were my body’s SOS, telling me I was missing some key vitamins and minerals.

After being vegan for a few weeks, I had an incredible boost in energy, effortless digestion, and improved mental clarity. It was like I had leveled up in a video game, unlocking a type of wellness I didn’t even know existed.

In addition, I noticed that when everyone at work or home got sick, I somehow stayed healthy. Drifting between a college campus, a house full of kids, and a workforce of high school students, I completely immersed in a petri dish of common colds and stomach bugs (even COVID-19, at one point). I was left unscathed. Of course, many factors could have contributed, but it’s worth noting that I went from getting sick at least three to four times per year before going vegan to only getting sick once or twice.

Why I would NEVER go back to being vegan

After all that, you may wonder why I walked away from veganism. I’ll admit—it wasn’t an easy choice. Any lifestyle/habit change is always hard in the beginning, but giving up on veganism was particularly challenging.

Everyone in my life had been a victim of my rants about why being vegan was so amazing and smart. I had to admit that, perhaps, I wasn’t right about everything (such a shock, I know). Over time, I had also subconsciously built up a “fear” of animal foods. I associated eating meat and dairy with a time in my life when I felt sick and unconfident in my body. I had to deliberately rewire this mindset and offset the fear with a different, new experience.

After some serious reflection, I realized that it was time to eat my words and eat a steak. I’ve never looked back. Why?

1. Fiber overload = inflammation

This is where that old saying “you can have too much of a good thing” really applies. Because the vegan diet is nearly ALL plants, it is insanely high in fiber. Although a necessary and healthy part of your diet, it can be tough to digest in high quantities (especially when your gut isn’t used to it). When the only thing I ate was fiber, my body became “overloaded” as time went on. This caused my gut to become inflamed, worsening my IBS symptoms and leaving me sicker than before.

Another caveat with fiber—it’s highly filling, but low in calories, which is why it’s touted for weight loss. For some people, this might help achieve a healthy body weight, but for me, it became problematic. I would get full quickly, but not consume enough calories or protein to match my highly active lifestyle. The initial energy boost I experienced when I first went vegan quickly plummeted, as my body struggled to keep up on a low-calorie intake and protein deficit.

2. Malabsorption, Malnurishment, and Malaise

Another issue with veganism that often gets overlooked is the problem of malabsorption. For your body to reap all the benefits of a certain food, that food must be “bioavailable.”

Bioavailability of food refers to the extent and rate at which a nutrient is absorbed and becomes available for the body to use.

Unfortunately, while plant-based foods are rich in minerals and vitamins, they’re bound up with substances like fiber, oxylates, and phytates, which can reduce and inhibit absorption. A shame. I was supposedly eating the healthiest foods on the planet, but my body wasn’t efficiently absorbing the nutrients.

Malnourishment eventually ensued, and a malaise followed.

My Vitamin D, Iron, Choline, and B12 levels dropped severely, and I found myself living in a constant state of discomfort and fatigue. I had already been diagnosed with mild anemia in high school, so I was predisposed to some of these issues—but I didn’t realize how serious it could become. I was cold and dizzy all the time, having frequent episodes of nearly passing out. My energy dwindled like a quenched flame because of a lack of B12 and Vitamin D. My brain was foggy, and my workout recovery was poor because of low choline. Managing mood swings, anxiety, and stress (which is already hard!) became increasingly difficult.

In the second half of my vegan saga, I experimented with supplements to try and rebalance. Eventually, I asked myself the harder questions: If my body clearly needs these nutrients, why am I not giving it what it’s asking for? Is it really sustainable — or even healthy — to rely on sugary supplement gummies just to compensate for what my diet lacks?

3. Never satisfied, always craving more

It’s hard to describe this feeling to someone who has never been vegan for a significant amount of time.

I would finish my meals, and although I would be physically full, I wouldn’t be truly satisfied. Lacking protein, healthy fats, and key nutrients—which are more bioavailable and abundant in animal-based foods—the satiety of my meals was seriously lacking. I was constantly beset with cravings for sweets and caffeine (my body’s way of compensating for the lack of energy I had). I fell into a vicious cycle of downing spoonfuls of peanut butter, chugging coffee and energy drinks, and splurging on sugary, carb-heavy snacks.

Yes, it was all technically “vegan.” But that didn’t make it healthy, by any means.

I’ll always love peanut butter, but now I can say, “I can quit whenever I want,” and actually mean it.

4. Restricted, unbalanced lifestyle and missing out

Sometimes, I just wanted to have a burger that my dad grilled on a Summer evening.

And was that a bad thing? Not at all. As time went on, I started to recognize how far-fetched and unrealistic my vegan diet had become. Sure, I genuinely liked plant-based meals, enjoyed a healthier lifestyle, and got a kick out of learning 78 different ways to cook tofu. But I really wanted to go out for ice cream with my mom, partake in charcuterie board night with the girlies, and share a chicken sandwich with my brother.

My mindset on health started to expand and become more three-dimensional. I wanted nourishment and joy. I wanted attainability and sustainability. I wanted eating habits that supported not just my gut and body, but my mind and soul. The restriction and energy expenditure to maintain the label of “vegan” came at too high a cost.

And let’s be real—if ice cream has to go, that is a price far too high.

A year and a half well spent

When all is said and done, I’m thankful for my vegan era and all it taught me. I should make this disclaimer: everyone’s body is different; this is just my personal story, not medical advice. So please don’t come for me in the comments!

My time being vegan reinforces a deeper belief I have that every experience we go through in life has validity and purpose, even if we wouldn’t return to it, per se.

However, it is we who must choose to allow it to become that.

See how deep that got? And here you judged me for opening this post with a quote from Twilight.