Vegan diet?

Anyone every considered a vegan diet? Been experimenting with it for a few years and it has helped with weight loss and other health issues. Also, great for the animals.

[PhilFreeToAsk]

You mentioned that it has helped your health. It would be nice to know how it has benefited you and how it has improved your health?

[Hidden]

Hi Phil, well i’m much leaner than I used to be. I don’t get chest pains that I used to get. Also my cholesterol levels have come down, my stamina has increased, i’m more alert and awake, and I generally feel healthier. I had a blood test done about a year ago and they told me I was in perfect health with all the vitals normal.

One downside is that i can’t seem to gain weight no matter how much food I eat.

I know a few people who have tried it and their various ailments have improved such as skin conditions stomach aches due to lactose intolerance etc.

Also, I do a fair bit of sport and I am convinced a plant based has improved my performance.

[PhilFreeToAsk in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for sharing with us your progress. It sounds like you have made an amazing improvement to your health.

I am an omnivore but also have trouble putting on weight. This is particularly true now that I have no sugar or very little refined carbs. Maybe you are experiencing the same without realising it but you have embarked on a diet that naturally does not put on weight.

[andyswarbs in reply to Hidden]

When I first started doubling up my Bikram Yoga I was worried about liquids and energy. Now I don't worry at all. Yes I can drink a shed load of liquid, but my body naturally paces itself. I have even done several Sunday's full of Bikram yoga.

[Lippysue]

I am a long time veggie and tried to go vegan a few years ago but found it very difficult. Eating out, eating with the family, explaining it to friends and family catering for me were all near impossible for me. Dairy products, honey, eggs or leather are in so many products.

I still avoid milk when possible but I am not always 100% vegan by any means.

[Hidden in reply to Lippysue]

Highly recommend watching earthlings. I became vegan after watching it and never went back.

[andyswarbs]

I have now been on the ultra-healthy end of a vegan diet, a whole-food plant based no oil for nearly two years and can recommend it to anyone with health issues.

[Hidden in reply to andyswarbs]

No oil! Wow, that’s impressive. I still eat my vegan burgers and chips and sweets and stuff. The no cheese and milk makes a huge difference in itself.

[andyswarbs in reply to Hidden]

No oil when at home and I do the cooking. When out and about I minimise wherever possible.

[Hidden in reply to andyswarbs]

No olive oil in salads either?

[andyswarbs in reply to Hidden]

Most definitely. Oil is a highly refined food. Any positives in oil, olive, coconut or whatever are vastly outweighed by calorie negatives.

[Hidden in reply to andyswarbs]

If you have any tips to make salads taste better let me know! Tastes crap without vinaigrette

[benwl in reply to Hidden]

I've been following a low oil vegan diet for about 3 years now.

I usually use balsamic vinegar as a dressing - also adding some jalapeno peppers to a salad gives it a kick

[BadHare in reply to Hidden]

Hidden Try organic salad fruit/veg, as they taste too good to add dressing.

[Hidden]

Yes, I'm mainly plant based and it has had major benefits

Just cutting out dairy started to see health gains

[Paul12]

It’s a philosophical point about veganism being better for animals. With the spread of veganism animals would not be born...

[benwl in reply to Paul12]

It's also better for us as we evolved to eat plants not animals

[Hidden in reply to Paul12]

Better that than a short life of misery and death. I know if I were an animal bred for food I would rather not be born! It’s immoral, inhumane and downright selfish to consume animal products. I’ll leave the ethical aspect for another thread though.

[andyswarbs in reply to Paul12]

The word philosophical seems to imply a theoretical point. I go with para86's perspective that raising an animal just for the purpose of killing it has no justification. Such justification reduces even more any time any semblance of cruelty whilst that animal is alive.

- Animals kill because it is their only way to survive, whilst humans have a choice.

- Animals kill the weakest animal because that is the one they can catch. This improves animal husbandry over the years. Humans kill the strongest, thus depleting good animal genes.

But bringing the debate back to the purpose of this forum, considering the overwhelming research there is no doubt a lot of human misery in terms of chronic disease is directly attributed to the consumption of meat by humans.

That's not to say that the vast majority of research does not support eating meat. The problem with that same research is it is funded by meat & dairy companies who have seemingly limitless funds to apply to research projects.

Finally no vegan that I know of imagines animals being slaughtered for human consumption is going to stop overnight. Such a change in lifestyle may take centuries. Over that time animal farmers will inevitably migrate to more planet-conscious agriculture such as growing plants.

[ronnie13swann]

Hi Para, not sure if I could stick to a vegan diet but it certainly sounds healthy. Will you give me an idea of what you would normally eat in a day please.

[Hidden in reply to ronnie13swann]

For breakfast: muesli, cereal, or beans on toast, with tea and biscuits. For lunch, normally a hummus sandwich with some fruit, salad, and perhaps green tea. For dinner I almost always have a curry. Dahl and rice and chappatis, or potato curry or kidney beans curry, or some other curry. When I don’t have curries, I may have: chips, pizza, salad or bread, or a burger, or something like veggie chicken in black bean sauce. Instagram is great for vegan ideas. Search #vegan on there and you will get lots of food ideas.

[andyswarbs in reply to ronnie13swann]

Yesterday I had my daily porridge (water & oats), lunch was salad. Dinner we ate out at Prezzo's and I had mushroom risotto without the cheese and with a side salad. Also I picked up a couple of veg samosa on the way home. So far today I have had porridge and then hummus & salad for lunch with a slice of bread.

[Hidden in reply to andyswarbs]

I don’t eat at anywhere that serves meat, and rarely eat at vegetarian places because of the risk of cross contamination. Some vegans are okay with it but it super grosses me out! 😬

[BadHare]

Marigold52 Most people embarking on a meat free diet are fully aware of potential nutrient deficiencies, & how to supplement effectively. I'm sure Hidden & all the other Veg*ns on this site would not feel healthier for eating a meat free diet were it deficient in essential nutrients or micronutrients. I know a considerably smaller number of Veg*ns who have a poor diet, compared to the number of omnivores that eat junk. Those that take the trouble, not that it is any, to ensure their diet is cruelty free &/or environmentally better, generally make other associated healthy lifestyle choices for themselves & the planet. Even omnivores suffer PA, B12 & other micronutrient deficiencies, so it shouldn't be assumed that Veg*ns would automatically be so, or the fallacy that they will be protein, iron, or anything else deficient. These are myths that have been perpetuated for too long! My intake of B12 is approximately 1,000% RDA from my diet yet my blood levels are low enough to necessitate a sublingual methylcobalamin supplement five times this, to reach optimal range. My issue is absorption, not availability from my vegetarian diet.

[marigold22 in reply to BadHare]

Many apologies for upsetting you.

[BadHare in reply to marigold22]

I'm not upset, just trying to point out that Veg*n diets don't cause nutrient deficiencies any more than omnivorous diets. I even know a few happy healthy veggie dogs, though I'm pretty sure they'd eat a rabbit given the chance! I was told, as a child, that I'd die if I didn't eat meat. Most people were horrified when I announced my baby would be brought up vegetarian, as that a meat free diet was certain to make him both phsically & mentally retarded. I felt better, & it's certainly done him no harm, unlike the kids I know that eat processed food.

[wobblypat High Risk]

I have! I have cerebral vasculitis and have been treated by Western medicine, as much as is possible and whilst it has no doubt improved my physical health, I just don't feel well, so my quality of life could be better. I have turned to holistic medicine, yoga and Shiatsu, but think a total change of diet would help. As I cannot chew, turning vegetarian will not be a problem as I can't chew, but becoming vegan seems a big step.

[Hidden in reply to wobblypat]

What on earth has chewing got to do with diet? Vegans and Vegetarians chew their food too you know! 😂

[wobblypat High Risk in reply to Hidden]

Yes, but meat is much more difficult to suck to death than a well cooked carrot.

[Hidden in reply to wobblypat]

You’re not making any sense to me :/

[wobblypat High Risk]

Sorry to sound so vague. A vegetarian diet is easier for me to follow than one using meat cos I can't chew meat anyway, so giving it up would not be a hardship.

I considered becoming a vegan, or even following a macrobiotic diet as even vegetables can cause me problems. That is a big step though. And I would like a little further advice

[Hidden in reply to wobblypat]

Thank you for the clarification. Thought you were mocking me for being vegan for a moment! >.<.

I had a three month trial, lapsed, then watched earthlings and became vegan again. Veganism is a lifestyle, not a diet. If you do it for the right reasons (i.e. for the animals), it will become so much easier to stick to as you become physically repulsed by the thought of consuming or even touching animal products. Few documentaries I recommend are: “Earthlings”, “cowspiracy” and “what the health”. One of my friends became a ‘vegan’ for health reasons after watching “what the health”, so that might be worth a go if you don’t yet love animals enough to become a vegan for compassionate reasons.

[BadHare in reply to wobblypat]

wobblypat Eating more veg etc, is good for almost everyone, as is cutting down on things like processed foods & sugar. Going vegetarian is a big step that people should do if they’re comfortable with it, so do the best you can, given your hubby’s not on board yet, & see how you feel. Your new soup maker may get him enjoying more vegetables. I use this stuff a lot as it's tasty & nutritious, & lots of us need B vitamins to feel well: healthunlocked.com/healthye......

Here's some leaflet I thought people who aren’t sure about healthy eating could look at or print for reference. There’s also a video about being flexitarian that I liked.

anhinternational.org/wp-con...

anhinternational.orgp-conte...

healthunlocked.com/healthye...

Not vegan, sorry Hidden !