There's this company called Vega that sponsors us, and basically

In an age when humanity seeks both strength and compassion, there comes a voice that bridges the two. Alissa White-Gluz, the fierce and soulful artist, once said, “There's this company called Vega that sponsors us, and basically, what it is is a vegan health optimizer. But really it's a protein shake that has all the vitamins, all the enzymes, all the minerals, all the carbs, all the proteins... everything that you need to set yourself for the day.” Though her words may seem simple — a mention of nourishment and routine — within them lies a deeper philosophy, one that speaks of balance, wholeness, and the harmony between body, spirit, and the world around us.

To understand this quote, we must see beyond the mention of a protein shake and recognize what it symbolizes: the human longing to live in alignment with nature, to draw vitality not from destruction, but from unity. The vegan health optimizer she speaks of is not merely a product of modern science; it is the embodiment of an ancient idea — that what we consume becomes what we are. The ancients said, “You are what you eat,” not only in flesh but in spirit. To eat with compassion, to nourish the body without harm, is to honor the sacred cycle of life.

Alissa White-Gluz, known for her powerful presence in the realm of heavy metal, represents a paradox: a voice fierce as thunder, yet guided by gentleness and ethics. Her choice to live a vegan life, and her praise for a company that sustains her in this journey, reflects a truth the wise have long known — that true strength is not born from domination, but from discipline and awareness. The minerals, vitamins, and enzymes she names are symbols of completeness, reminders that nature, in its abundance, already provides all that the body requires, if only we learn to listen.

Consider the story of Pythagoras, the ancient philosopher who preached the doctrine of nonviolence through what we now call vegetarianism. He believed that the soul of man is intertwined with the soul of all living beings, and that by consuming with cruelty, one corrupts not only the flesh but the spirit. His followers abstained from animal flesh, believing that purity of body leads to purity of thought. Though millennia have passed, his wisdom lives on in those like Alissa, who see in food not just sustenance, but a moral and spiritual choice.

In truth, her words about this health optimizer also reflect something more universal — the search for balance in modern life. In an era of chaos, exhaustion, and disconnection, the act of nurturing oneself becomes sacred. To “set yourself for the day,” as she says, is to prepare not only the body for labor but the mind for battle and the heart for compassion. Just as a warrior sharpens their blade before dawn, so too must the modern soul sharpen their inner strength through mindful nourishment. The shake she speaks of becomes a ritual, a moment of intention, a daily affirmation that one’s body is a vessel worthy of care and reverence.

Yet beneath this praise of nourishment lies a deeper message: that in seeking what is whole, we must also seek what is ethical. A nation, a society, or a person grows strong not by taking endlessly from the earth, but by giving back, by living in a cycle that sustains rather than consumes. The vegan path is not simply a diet — it is a statement of unity between the human and the natural, a reminder that compassion is the truest form of health. For what use is physical strength if it is purchased with the suffering of others? What good is vitality if it blinds us to the pulse of life around us?

So let this teaching be heard: nourish yourself with intention. Whether through plants, peace, or purpose, let what enters your body be chosen with awareness. Honor the earth that feeds you, and in return, let your strength serve something greater than appetite. The proteins and minerals of which Alissa speaks are but reflections of a deeper truth — that when we nourish ourselves in harmony with creation, we align with the rhythm of the cosmos itself. Let every meal, every act of care, be a prayer to life: that we may grow strong not to conquer, but to uplift.

For in the end, true nourishment is not only of the body, but of the soul. And as Alissa White-Gluz reminds us, the tools of modernity — even a humble shake — can become vessels of timeless wisdom, if we use them with gratitude, compassion, and reverence for all living things.