Veganism: really all that?

[yellowsquarepostit]

The few people I know who've gone vegan due various reasons and motivations (a surprising number being BF mums who found baby had issues with dairy) say they feel amazing.

AIBU to think it's due to concentrating more on healthy eating generally? And potentially as milk can inhibit absorption of some things e.g. Iron. And maybe it's just the milk or the meat?

I guess I'm hoping for a relapsed vegan may comment!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Lapsed vegan here

I do have to say I feel a million times better when I do eat vegan.

Meat and dairy make me feel very full and bloated and lethargic.

[Albadross]

I'm vegan and I feel the same as I did before I was vegan!

[yellowsquarepostit]

Great! +2 to my theory so far!

But really I think everyone has stuff that doesn't agree with them so maybe it's about finding the balance rather than a specific diet?

(Also: The bees! The bees! The bees!)

[Sadsnake]

Fuck,I'm going to have to name change again now.

[cardibach]

How are the first two comments +2? The second says veganism makes no difference to how s/he feels!

[thelonelyhamster]

I feel much better eating vegan than I did before... but my diet before consisted largely of burgers and doughnuts, so that's no surprise!

[Smartleatherbag]

I've been vegan, vegetarian and omnivorous over the years. Makes fuck all difference ime.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

My diet is better now I'm. Not vegan.i actually cook etc now which when I was vegan and single I didn't and it was long enough ago that I usually just ended up with toast and jam (no butter) or a race filled pepper if I ate out.

So theoretically I should feel better now.

Except I don't realise how crap it all makes me feel til I realise I've had a few days of not eating much and picking stuff that happens to be vegan when I do eat and then I eat meat/cheese again...

[pointythings]

sadsnake.

I hope you can get some support with your ED, you sound so down.

My DD1 is vegetarian but she and I often eat vegan because we like it. I don't cook a lot of processed stuff - DD1 likes Quorn but it is highly processed and I am allergic to it, so I do a lot of things with pulses. Neither of us likes tofu.

It's perfectly possible to eat vegan and eat crap, equally it's possible to eat vegan and eat well - I think it's the latter that is going to make you feel good just because you are eating healthy food cooked from scratch.

[LauraMipsum]

I find when I am vegan I do feel amazing but this is not because of the inherent wonders of a vegan diet, but because I'm not mindlessly eating a pastry and a latte every morning!

You can eat a crap vegan diet but it's much easier to eat a crap omni one.

[NightNightBadger19962]

I feel rubbish on vegan diet - sadly as I have strong leanings towards it - I don't think it suits everyone.

[bikerlou]

I was a vegan for 10 years, didn't feel any different and basically got very fat becasue of all the carbs I was eating.
i was probably a shit vegan - it was certainly expensive. I'm a vegetarian at home now and I try and eat more sensibly all round and I've lost weight.
If I go and stay with people I'll eat whatever they are cooking.

[PaperdollCartoon]

I'm vegan, I feel the same. I'm vegan for the environment and the animals much more than health, so my diet features more vegan cheese toasties and wine than acai berry bowls and green smoothies! Yes I eat a lot of veg but I always did, I think my diet is actually very similar to when I ate meat and dairy.
Only major difference, and sorry for the TMI but I used to go to the toilet every 2 days or so, now it's about 2-3 times a day. Yay fibre! I probably feel better in that sense, and my bowels will thank me in the long run.

[Sadsnake]

Pointythings,your very kind..I'm sorry I should think before I post.i didn't mean to make anyone feel bad,or take away the point of the thread...don't feel sorry for me,I have no one to blame but myself..

[PaperdollCartoon]

Also, my weight is the same (average, slightly over ideal, I'm a size 12, 5"2) I spend the same on food, veganism isn't more expensive and depending what you eat would likely be cheaper.

[VladmirsPoutine]

I think healthy and mindful eating is the key regardless of whatever sort of diet someone follows. I certainly noticed that when I quit my beer and burger habit I felt much better in myself.

[Matchingbluesocks]

Ive never known anyone who thinks veganism is desirable or "all that"

[PaperdollCartoon]

Should add - veganism isn't a diet, it's a philosophical and moral standpoint on the exploitation of animals and the environment. If you're just thinking about the food side of it you're plant based, not vegan. Though any reason that means your meat and dairy consumption is reduced is fine by me! Every little helps

[BedknobsandBullhooks]

I'm vegan and have been for years. I have days where I eat really healthily and days (like today!) Where I eat crisps and hummus and wine. If you're eating loads of fresh fruit and veg and healthy stuff yes you'll feel better than if you eat chips and cheese and burgers, but simply 'going vegan' doesn't make a difference to health. You can easily be a junk food vegan same as you can be as a non vegan.

[choppolata]

I've been vegan nearly 2 years, veggie for 25 before that. Definitely don't feel any more healthy (work involves lots of carb heavy lunches/dinners) - but I'm not doing it for my own benefit.

[Kokapetl]

I was properly vegan for a bit and now eat fish and seafood but not meat or dairy and eggs only occasionally when I can get rescue hen eggs.

I used to have really bad eczema. It cleared up when I gave up dairy and only returns (along with a sticky feeling in my throat) when I accidentally have some kind of dairy product.

[NameChanger22]

I've been vegetarian for over 30 years and eat vegan only meals all the time, but I love cheese and real milk in tea. I've tried being fully vegan a few times but never succeeded for more than a couple of months. I usually stop being a vegan when I go on holiday and there is nothing much to eat, then I taste cheese again and it's game over.

I don't feel or look any better eating a vegan diet, maybe I wasn't eating vegan food for long enough. But I do think we should all eat more vegan foods because the dairy industry is shocking. It's much more expensive, antisocial and time consuming being a vegan. I think food manufacturing and restaurants needs to change to excluded animal products more.