Actress Genelia D'Souza has disclosed the personal motivations behind her shift to a fully vegan lifestyle, beginning with health considerations before deepening into broader ethical and environmental commitments. During a detailed discussion on Soha Ali Khan's YouTube channel with nutritionist Kinita Patel, she outlined the stepwise progression from a non-vegetarian background to complete plant-based eating.

Raised in a family accustomed to meat consumption, Genelia initially had limited exposure to vegetarian cuisine, associating it primarily with simple items like peas, potatoes, and paneer. She ceased eating meat in 2017, transitioning to vegetarianism while retaining some dairy and eggs, viewing the change as primarily beneficial for her well-being and describing it as a "selfish" yet transformative decision that left her feeling lighter and more energized.

The full adoption of veganism occurred in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced by her husband Riteish Deshmukh, who had stopped meat in 2016. The couple experimented with eliminating all animal products during lockdown, noticing immediate physical improvements and reduced heaviness from even minor dairy intake, which solidified their commitment.

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Over time, Genelia's perspective expanded to encompass animal welfare and environmental sustainability, acknowledging imperfections in her early vegan practices while emphasizing ongoing education and adaptation. She highlighted how restricting certain foods opened avenues to appreciating diverse plant-based alternatives.

Addressing nutritional concerns, expert Kinita Patel clarified that deficiencies can arise from any imbalanced diet, regardless of whether it includes meat, and recommended regular health monitoring and targeted supplementation to maintain optimal nutrition on a vegan regimen.

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