Turning Vegan

[orangebee1]

Hi ladies!
After having a low-meat diet for several months i made the leap and went full on vegan about 5 days ago. Today i'm feeling dizzy, tired and like i want to vomit. I've read in several places that this could be detox symptoms as my body expels all the toxins and adjusts. I wanted to ask if anyone else experienced this when they turned to a vegan diet? (And yes...if it continues i will seek medical advice - but i'd like to hear other experiences for now).

Hi I didn't experience anything like this, felt healthier in general from the start. Hope you feel better soon 😊

@OP what have you been eating once you dropped the meat and dairy? Have you been taking on enough protein in vegan forms along with vegan carbs? A vegan diet isn't about dropping all that meat, cheese, eggs etc. You need to find something to replace those nutrients...

I haven't had this either. Could be a pure coincidence ie you happen to have caught a bug at the same time as you turned vegan. Or you might not have been having a balanced diet eg taking in fewer calories than you're using up. If you've gone for a really healthy, plant based style of veganism, you might not have had enough protein or carbs.

That sounds horrible. Maybe you are ill? I never had anything like that. I think detoxing, unless from drugs/alcohol, is bunkum. Stopping meat should only lead to increased farting!

Not had this either, nor did my husband. We felt better from the start. We also have several vegan friends and this hasn’t been their experience either. Sorry you are feeling poorly but I’m thinking it is either a coincidence and you have a bug or something. Or you have cut meat out of your diet without adding things like pulses, nuts, tofu etc. A vegan diet is great for health but it is important to research how to eat a balanced diet if you want to feel the health benefits

No I've never had this part from when I gave up a daily cup of freshly ground coffee (which of course can be had with plant milks when you're vegan).

Look at having plenty of fresh salads etc. and yeast extract (in flake form for soups or marmite types). Also have a look in the Health Food shops for help with supplements and vegan 'pretend meats' to get you through the transition period.

I cannot see a connection between your symptoms and silting a vegan diet. Could you have caught a bug?

I go vegan for a week at a time when visiting DD and never had problems

Have you made an enormous change in your diet? Apart from giving animal proteins?

I would think it’s coincidental. Changing from one basically nutritious diet to another shouldn’t cause this.

Not sure what you mean by toxins. I haven’t eaten meat for 25 years but it’s demonstrably non-toxic.

I felt terrific from day 1. Mind you I researched at the Viva! site to make sure I got my protein, calcium etc and I supplement with vegan vitamin/mineral pill, and I sprinkle nooch everywhere I can. If I were you I would wonder if I were getting all the correct vitamins etc and it might be wise to ask your doctor for a blood test to see if you are lacking anything. Also, are you eating the right amount of protein? You can't just cut out a bunch of foods - you have to replace them with foods that give you similar nutrients.

If you are eating properly then it may well be that you have a medical problem and again, it might be wise to see your doctor.

The first week I felt crap because I wasn’t eating enough. I was used to being able to space my meals every 4 hours when eating meals. I quickly realised being vegan (whole foods plant based) that I need to eat like every two hours! Felt instantly better after eating enough.

Example of what I eat

1 cup dry oats cooked w 2 cups water. Cinnamon, blueberries and banana.

Brown rice w sweet potato and beans w spinach and avocado. I make a big portion. Eat as much as I can and save a small amount for my snack in two hours.

Bowl of berries and a small amount of nuts

Gluten free pasta w a veggie sauce and greens or huge salad w potatoes and beans

Apple w cashew butter or another bowl of fruit

I will say that dh has an allergy to sunflower oil, that is a problem with plant milks because soo many of them have it in them.

Iam careful what I eat vegan or not because I also have bad effects from 3 basics of the vegan diet which are cashews, coconut, hoummous and deadly nightshade veg (esp. ifyou're buying 'ready made meals) . I use other ingredients but the cooking takes a bit time! Oh and I don't eat wheat which is a slight problem, but there are lots of rice based carbs!

@Mamabear12

The first week I felt crap because I wasn’t eating enough. I was used to being able to space my meals every 4 hours when eating meals. I quickly realised being vegan (whole foods plant based) that I need to eat like every two hours! Felt instantly better after eating enough.

Example of what I eat

1 cup dry oats cooked w 2 cups water. Cinnamon, blueberries and banana.

Brown rice w sweet potato and beans w spinach and avocado. I make a big portion. Eat as much as I can and save a small amount for my snack in two hours.

Bowl of berries and a small amount of nuts

Gluten free pasta w a veggie sauce and greens or huge salad w potatoes and beans

Apple w cashew butter or another bowl of fruit

Where is your protein? Iron?

hamster The research proves that there are plants with plenty of protein and iron in them e'g soya is higher in it than steak. There is protein in all good fresh green veg. Also yeast, (as yeast flakes and or yeast spread like Marmite) which has the bonus of B12.

Interestingly the 'normal' omnivore diet is much less healthy than a demi raw vegan one.. Witness the high incidence of cancer, diabetes etc etc. If it were really healthy there would be empty hospitals instead of the opposite (without Cov.)

@hamstersarse

There is loads of protein and iron in @Mamabear12 s daily meal plan

I didn’t experience those symptoms at all OP.

No you aren't detoxing. Have you gone super 'healthy' and cut out fat or sugar or something that might be making you feel weird? You don't need to be super healthy as a vegan just eat normal food.

Some nuts can give me the gyp like cashews, it could be a reaction to those. There are plenty that we can have that are fine like almonds, pecans, walnuts etc. Plenty of protein in those.

That is what non vegans always ask me - where do you get your protein. The same way the animals that non vegans eat do lol. We can get it through plants, nuts and beans etc. Same w iron. I get b12 when I have nutritional yeast. And sometimes I’ll take a multi vitamin just in case (maybe like once a week)

Mamabear Yes exactly, I always have the answer to that question, "Where do gorillas get their protein from then?" . IMO It's an ignorant question, they do eat a few insects but we can take supplements and yeast spreads, linseeds etc. as you say.

whoever wondered about mamabears diet. Protein in rice/beans/pasta/nuts plus iron in abundance. If you are ever worried about protein, check out TVP. I seem to remember it being about 50% protein and low calories. Takes on flavours so much better than tofu and also gives the 'meaty' chew. It's a byproduct of soy oil production.

Mamabear12 your diet is very similar to mine. Lots of protein there. I make sure I get B12 every day, from Marmite and yeast flakes.

Vegetarian for over 50 years and vegan for the past 10.

OP you shouldn't be getting withdrawal symptoms but check you are getting all the nutrients you need. Drink plenty of water too.

These symptoms are much more likely to be due to something coincidental than to your vegan diet, assuming that you were sensible enough to maintain your fluid and calorie intake when you made the change.