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!

I'm vegan and I feel exactly the same as I did before, minus the guilt

I've been a vegan for over 20 years, because I hate cruelty to animals (I went veggie as a kid, but didn't find out about veganism until later).
I used to eat quite unhealthily - too much pasta, too much veggie junk food, cakes and biscuits. I was a bit overweight and definitely unfit.

I changed my diet a few months ago after my partner got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He needed to lose weight, watch his carbs and try to eat more low-GI foods so we decided to change our diet as a family.

I now have smaller portions, eat far few carbs and have a lot more fruit and veg. I've lost 2 stones and feel much fitter and healthier.

Veganism per se makes no difference to how you feel - it's what kind of vegan diet you eat that makes difference.

Sadsnake bulimia is an illness, not something you can be to blame for. It is also the kind of illness that really needs professional help from psychological services. And you deserve that.

Weirdly I just read this fascinating article about some of the reasons a vegan diet doesn't work as well for some as it does others, genetics and an individual's gut microbiome playing a huge part in their ability to produce and absorb vital nutrients. Really interesting and certainly pointing towards that everyone's diet really needs to be tailored to their specific circumstances. authoritynutrition.com/4-reasons-some-do-well-as-vegans/

Thank you for the responses, very interesting.

I completely understand that veganism is really a philosophical approach to life; however I'm afraid it's not why people I know are trying it in all honesty. I can see that you can feel morally better.

I'm meeting people who claim they feel so much better physically.

However - actually, as I understand it, as a comment mentioned above, dairy can exacerbate quite a few things (certainly increases mucous according to a GP friend and eczema) too much meat can make you feel yuck (meat sweats!).

Also, as I mentioned, and one of the reasons for thinking about veganism, iron is best absorbed from food if not eaten near eggs and dairy. (I'm struggling with iron and an inability to take the tablets!)

And than you for the link above, which I'll read later, as I do think there are different foods people digest well or 'need'.

One serious concern I have about veganism is that iodine is primarily from animal sources and very important or women considering and during pregnancy, and (I'd like to be corrected on this one if possible) the fact that we need bees to desperately to pollinate crops that I feel honey should be eaten and the industry supported from an ethical POV.

Really though, I feel all things considered, it's about choosing local/ sustainable/ organic/ healthy food if you're considering health but possibly also welfare? Esp as seaweed fertilised veg might get your iodine in. (I don't know about specifics here!)

Or a bit of lava bread!

Ps +2 as there was no difference to how they felt on or off a vegan diet!

Sadsnake I didn't see your post; this was generally a light hearted debate and I hope I didn't offend or upset you.

Fascinating article wandering thank you. Will need to digest it properly

The vegan society emphasise doing what is 'practical and possible' and I find myself edging my way back into the lifestyle because it does seem illogical to care about some forms of oppression while ignoring others, given that all forms of oppression are rooted in the devaluing of life?

I feel though devil, the majority of people I know have approached it from a purely health perspective.

Some have noticed that they are better off dairy for example.

I actually would choose to do it for moral and ethical reasons, but not for health. But they are becoming evangelical about it from this stance, not from the true reasons for it.

For example, a very few, vegan but eating meat (?!)

Yes, definitely feel better on a vegan diet. It's probably a lot to do with better meal planning, cooking lots from scratch and eating tons of veg to make sure I'm getting all the right nutrients/vitamins though. I imagine I'd feel just as bloated & lethargic as before on a diet of lots of vegan pizza and chips!

So All, would I be right in thinking it's the fact you must eat carefully and wholesomely and check up on vitamins etc?

We are a strict vegetarian/vegan household. It's for moral and ethical reasons, but people are sometimes surprised at what we eat.

It's not all raw salad and seeds, or weird things you only find in hidden corners of Holland and Barratt. We eat quite a lot too much cake, as vegan baking is so easy and satisfying. In fact, I'm off to bake some really rich chocolate cakes in about 5 minutes as we have visitors coming.

However, we do eat lots of fruit and vegetables too, and keep a regular check on nutrients so nobody is going without anything. We are generally a very healthy and active family, with the vegan being the most sporty.

From a health point of view I feel like it's not practical for me to be fully vegan right now (about 3 weeks away from a marathon) or possible (I'm so bad at feeding myself I've been having my meals cooked and delivered 😳 they always include chicken or fish!) but I'm sure health is just as true a reason as wanting to distance oneself from e.g. the dairy industry?

I know there are plenty of vegan athletes but I don't want to change my diet too drastically at this point.

Very possibly yellow! I had a fairly balanced veggie diet before too. I'm sure I'd be fine on all pizza as long as I took some multivits hehe. Cutting out the dairy really did make a massive noticeable difference though - why not try it for a couple weeks and test your theory out?

I'm a lapsed vegan. Vegan or not makes no difference to my ability to eat a whole packet or bourbon creams. I don't feel any different.

Most people developed the ability to digest dairy products around 5,000 or so years ago, and most people can digest meat products easily, so veganism won't make a difference, physically, to most people.

If you want to do it more moral or whatever reasons, cool. But most people aren't healthier by cutting out dairy etc. than they would be by just following a regular healthy diet.

Absolutely devil, but that's just cutting out dairy for health reasons!

I'm being a picky devils advocate!

I'm on the verge of cutting out dairy for a couple of reasons; I've had to avoid lactose for ibs recently caused by iron tablets which isn't hugely going away. But then with a view to over hauling my diet to maximise iron. Which would be cutting back on eggs too I think, or getting timings right. And also to see if it helped mild asthma.

However, that would include a rare venison steak once a week. (Which to me actually feels more "ethical" than beef or chicken- AIBU??)

I guess what I'm saying is to do with the semantics and philosophy of what veganism is rather than about being healthier. But it strikes me you could be swimming in vegan food and still eat meat occasionally for a very healthy diet. But that would not be vegan.

spindelina

pluto, that is true, but as mentioned in the link further upthread, lactose intolerance can develop later due to genetics and a factor appears to be gut bacteria from birth.

Plus, it's well known that milk increases mucous production (v non woo GP friend told me this). Plus it's very linked to eczema.

It is a very good source of iodine though.

Alot of people will tell you the whole mucous thing was debunked.

But if I have pizza for tea when I wake up my mouth is all thick and sticky it's revolting.

What's that about

a surprising number being BF mums who found baby had issues with dairy)

If all the people who told you their babies had issues with dairy, especially through breast milk, actually had babies with those issues, it would be a massive epidemic. It's only occasionally the case, most of the time its nonsense.

Veganism for most people is nothing but a silly fad which they don't even stick to. They are vegan until they find their wine isn't, or until they really fancy some cheese.

My mums vegan so I agreed to give it a go. I felt horrendous and constantly hungry (unless I ate loads of carbs or nuts) but I can't eat soy or legumes (all types of beans or peas) or lentils so my protein options are severely limited. And my ibs flared up like never before.

My mum has done really well on it though so it obviously suits some people.

Personally I don't think a restrictive diet is particularly healthy for anyone unless restrictive due to intolerance or allergy.

Luckily, user, there is a lot of wine out there that is vegan for those of us who enjoy a bottle a glass. It's unfair to label it a fad for those who feel very strongly about the ethics. And I haven't once been tempted by a bit of cheese, btw. When you know exactly where it comes from and how it has been produced it's hard to consider it as 'food' any more.