My name is Adam Vacon and I was put on this Earth to help people be their happiest, healthiest selves. In order to do this, I have equipped myself with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology (BA) and have trained to become a holistic nutritionist (CNP) and personal trainer (PTS). I use these tools to help people give their bodies the food they need to thrive, skills to realize their strength in and out of the gym, and the coaching to do the things that will help them achieve their goals, be happy and fulfilled.
I am thrilled to be a part of the Yoso community because this is a group of people who share my passion for helping others be their happiest, healthiest selves. I really appreciate that Yoso makes delicious dairy-free products with the highest quality ingredients, which support our health and planet!
We asked a few questions about his dairy-free lifestyle as part of this series, Living Dairy Free:
Why are you dairy free?
I am not entirely dairy free, but 80% of my diet is free of dairy. The reason is that my body does not like me when I consume the pro-inflammatory dairy proteins whey and casein on a regular basis. If I eat high protein dairy foods like greek yogurt and whey protein powder for a few days in a row it will show up on my face, making my cheeks bigger and eyes puffy. These external signs are cues to me that inflammation has increased internally as well. Inflammation is something I make a concerted effort to minimize because it is strongly correlated with heart disease and cancer, both of which my family has a history of. My strategy is to avoid yogurt, milk, condiments with dairy and whey protein powder. This is very simple since there are excellent dairy-free alternatives to each of these items on the market.
Top five favourite dairy-free products
1/ Krisda Sugar-Free Chocolate chips: These lil’ guys deliver the daily chocolate hit I need, while also being a trifecta of goodness; dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free. *Swoon*
2/ Yoso Cashew based cream cheese style spread (the garlic flavour is my fav!): This product is a home run for me. Organic, vegan, junk and filler free, low carb, with healthy fat and a bit of protein to boot. I actually prefer this to real cream cheese – I am a true cashew lover, of which this product is made from.
3/ Organic coconut milk: I follow a low-carb, high-fat diet (LCHF) and coconuts are my jam. Many LCHF recipes use a boatload of cream, which just makes me feel heavy and tired. Alternatively, I use full fat coconut milk to enjoy creamy, comforting meals that don’t leave me feeling like its nap time.
4/ Yoso Unsweetened Coconut Yogurt: I mentioned I love coconuts above, but I’ll say it again. Naturally, I’m a fan of Yoso’s unsweetened coconut yogurt. Since I don’t eat dairy yogurt, coconut yogurt is the perfect creamy vehicle for things I love like trail mix, hemp hearts and my sugar-free chocolate chips!
5/ Vegan protein powder: As a teen, I used to consume truckloads of whey protein powder thinking it would help me get big muscles. All it really gave me was the feeling of having a brick in my stomach and puffy eyes. Instead, I use vegan protein powders that have combinations of hemp, pea, rice and chia protein. They pack a similar muscle-building punch, are much easier to digest and leave me feeling light and energized.
Favourite local spot to eat that accommodates dairy-free?
The Butternut Baking Co. Is my newest obsession located in my neighbourhood, The Junction. They have incredibly tasty sweet and savoury baked goods many of which are dairy free, can be customized to be dairy free and are low in sugar! They offer foods that are highly comforting and highly nutritious. A win-win all around.
Favourite place to shop for groceries?
My favourite place to shop for groceries is the Organic Garage, also located in my hood, The Junction. This is a very affordable grocery store that offers excellent quality organic produce and food items priced 10-30% lower than their competitors. I love a good deal and the Organic Garage delivers this on things I actually want to buy and feel good about putting in my body.