“My food pyramid was… a New York slice,” confesses Vikas Garg, recalling his childhood staple of a cheese-laden wedge of pizza. Today, the founder and CEO of abillion – an online ecosystem for the global plant-based movement – is an advocate for a vegan diet and lifestyle.
Born in India to a vegetarian family, he moved to America when he was four. In 2008, he decided to go vegan.
It was around that time that his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and his dad, heart disease. “How did two seemingly healthy people who neither drink nor smoke get so sick?” he asked. “I started thinking about cholesterol and saturated fat and the role food plays in our health. During that time, scientific research on the effect of our diet on conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and heart health also started surfacing. It was a wake-up call for me.”
Garg also acquired his first pet dog in 2008. “My dog was a huge emotional support for me when my dad’s heart problems hit a climax in 2009, and it is with my pet that I had the most emotionally complex relationship,” shares Garg. “This confluence of factors – the traumatic health issues faced by my parents, and my new awareness of animals as sentient beings – put me on the path of becoming a vegan.”
Denne historien er fra June 2021-utgaven av The PEAK Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra June 2021-utgaven av The PEAK Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
From Screen to Store
Heini Zachariassen, founder of global wine rating app Vivino on how its first retail store in the world brings data-driven curation to wine lovers.
In the Dining Spotlight
Renowned Dutch chef Sergio Herman, whose name has been associated with the Michelin Guide in the Netherlands and Belgium, is expanding his Asian footprint with his Singapore outpost, Le Pristine in Grand Hyatt Singapore.
All for One
How would you navigate a corner if you were hearing-impaired or enjoy school if you were on the spectrum? These architects posit that inclusive design must be part of mainstream standards to improve overall living environments.
Pods and Swirling Staircases
This quirky and playful home designed by Park Associates is shaped after its owners, a young family with three children.
Stories Behind the Kebava
Sufiyanto A. S., one half of the duo behind the Kebaya.Societe Instagram account, has had enough of seeing Malay identity erased and forgotten.
Good to Go
Driving classic Jaguars on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit is all the magic a motorhead needs.
Seasons of the Snake
Japanese architect Tadao Ando once again works his magic for Bvlgari, with the Serpenti Tubogas as an artistic canvas for nature's cyclical transformation.
Phoenix Rising
One gutsy retired pharmaceutical executive rescued two-century-old Swiss watchmaker Bovet, and today, its presence is stronger than ever in Southeast Asia.
Con Amore, Leggiero, Presto!
Chan Weitian injects new insights into Presto Drycleaners, blending operational innovation with time-honoured values.
Preserving Paradise
Gaya Island Resort takes eco-tourism beyond the expected, blending conservation efforts with authentic luxury.
