The 42-year-old vegan actress has been focusing on her gut health since her father’s cancer diagnosis.

Actress, producer and environmental activist Rosario Dawson has been following a vegan diet for years to ensure that she’s prioritizing her health over everything else.

In 2019, the Dopesick actress opened up to PEOPLE about her decision to cut out meat and dairy.  She said: “I’m mostly vegan and raw these days for my health and peace of mind.

“I rest better, I feel better, with less inflammation and more flexibility.

“I feel full without feeling uncomfortable or tired afterwards. I love the energy.”

Dawson’s gut friendly diet

Later in an interview with Eating Well, Dawson revealed how she tweaked her diet even further to make it more gut-friendly following her dad’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

“I learned a lot about gut health with my dad’s cancer treatment,” the 42 -year-old said.

“Gut health is emotional health, physical health, etc..”

According to Dawson: “Nutrition is very important to me, so I make sure to choose foods that give me the nutrients I want.”

After getting “super into” food, Dawson added lots of fiber and probiotic-rich foods to her meals gut -friendly.

“I love sauerkraut, kimchi and vegan yogurt,” she said.

The plant-based actress also revealed that she always tries to adapt her meals based on the weather. So, she’ll eat a warm bowl of oats or avocado toast in winter but have overnight oats for breakfast when its warmer.

Her lunches comprise big salads or stir-fried veggies whereas for dinner, she says, “I like changing it up.”  She added:  “I put turmeric in everything. I use a lot of ginger.”

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