Written by Jenna Scott:
I originally went vegetarian for Lent. Yes, Lent. Vegetarianism was something I had dabbled in my entire life, and now I had a justifiable reason to remove meat from my diet for a specified amount of time.
In the first few months as a vegetarian, I started to develop major digestion problems (mostly pain and bloating). I let this go on, along with my diet that consisted of mostly fruit and whole grains, second to eggs and veggies, for around one year.
There was a point where I realized I was bloated and in pain after every meal. I was obsessed with the cleanliness of anything I put into my body. I eliminated all processed foods, dairy, meat, eggs, most grains, sugar, and alcohol. On top of this, I regularly drank a psyllium and apple cider vinegar concoction every morning.
I vowed never to touch any animal products again. My diet consisted mostly of vegetables and fruit (usually blended into green smoothies), nuts, dried fruit, legumes and beans. Like any good vegan, I soon learned of the raw vegan lifestyle, and gripped over the nutrients in my food. I began only eating raw (nothing cooked above 118 degrees) in an effort to absorb as many nutrients as possible in their purest form. This turned into a week on/week off cycle as I could not eat ANYWHERE except my own kitchen (can you believe no one wanted to spiralize zucchini for me, or dehydrate some flax bread?).
I was not a junk food vegan at this point. But I was a sick one. For almost a year I held onto the belief that I was doing something wrong. Maybe I was missing a supplement? Was I not eating enough greens? Maybe I needed more grains to balance out the fiber I was getting from the veggies I was eating? Maybe I needed more fat (this one’s funny looking back – I ate around 6 cups of nuts per day)? I constantly searched forums and blogs, desperate for an answer to my host of symptoms. I was completely exhausted – mentally, physically and emotionally. My symptoms included:
-Fatigue
-Constipation/Digestion Problems
I really struggled with this one. I tried absolutely everything to help: psylium husk, herbal laxative teas, herbal colon cleanses, salt water flushes, and even enemas. After every meal my stomach looked like a beach ball.
-Depression
-Anxiety/Irritability
-Hunger
-Concentration/Memory Problems
“Brain Fog” is a phrase ex-vegans often use to describe how they feel near the end, and it’s pretty accurate. I would walk into a room and forget why I was there. I could no longer concentrate long enough to read a book. This was terrifying for me.
After thinking about it for months (and reading The Paleo Solution), with the support of my friends and coaches (and of course, my doctor who had been urging me to eat animal protein for months) I started to incorporate meat back into my diet, and began to follow the Paleo diet. I started off slowly, with just fresh wild fish and free-range eggs, but moved onto wild game and grass-fed beef. The changes I have noticed in my health, performance and body are incredible. The digestion problems I had been suffering with for over a year (and after half a dozen visits to the ER, my doctor, and a gastrointestinal specialist) were completely gone. My energy levels are consistent throughout the day, and the brain fog is gone! My strength gains have also seen a major improvement.
Since then, I’ve helped some of my family by introducing them to the Paleo diet. My mother has lost over 20 pounds and seen a significant improvement in the host of auto-immune deficiencies she deals with (including arthritis).
I firmly believe that following the diet of our paleolithic ancestors has healed me, and saved myself and my family from a host of disorders and diseases.
Wow, this is so similar to my own experience. I alternated between vegetarian and vegan for 6 years. At first, it was an improvement in my diet and how I felt… but it’s not that hard to improve upon deep-fried dorm food if it means you start eating at the salad bar instead. The longer I did it, the worse I started to feel, despite all the supplementation.
The “brain fog” as you describe it is what finally scared me enough that I knew I had to change something. I was in grad school and could barely do my assignments for lack of concentration. Somehow I made it through, and started eating fish after I graduated. I stumbled upon a few paleo blogs and decided to give it a try, since I couldn’t think of anything else I hadn’t tried. I started eating meat again reluctantly, but the immediate improvement I felt in my concentration got rid of my doubts! I actually started reading again! And the more adherent I got, the better I felt. So happy I gave it a try
Good for you! Eating what we are designed for works, huh? Carry on then!
“…what we are designed for…”
Check your facts.
We are “designed” to be herbivores. Look at your teeth, your nails. Your long intestines built to digest leaves. Your chewing. Your inability to eat rotting meat. Just google it.
If you guys want to eat meat, eat meat, but the science isn’t there.
No. We are not “designed” to be herbivores. We are, and always have been omnivores. If we were designed to be herbivores, we would be able to digest cellulose, which in fact we cannot. That is the fiber that gets passed through our systems.
I have heard paleo being harshly criticized as just another fad diet bandwagon, but I see that raw thing as a fad based on assumptions and no real evidence. I don’t see it difficult to argue that humans have been cooking for a long long time.
“I have heard paleo being harshly criticized as just another fad diet bandwagon”.
I hear this all of the time as well. My response is that this “fad” diet has been eaten by humans for millions of years, whereas the grain-based diet today has only been for 10K years or so.
Which is the fad?…
My wife has two vegetarian friends. Both have what I call “vegetarian eye sockets”. They have droopy, tired looking eyes. They both have menstruation problems, one has developed fainting spells. They won’t give it up though. They’re too proud and hippie and feel to good about themselves for not eating defenseless animals. The risk to their health is of no consequence if it means a cow lives.
There is no scientific finding that supports your claim that humans have been in existence for “millions of years”. Current science says it’s closer to 250 thousand years. Do your own fact-checking, good day.
I ate vegan (90+% raw) for seven years. I was a very active cyclist at about 200 miles a week and was doing fine but never could get the upper hand in a race. I was trying to heal a lot of health issues at the time.
Over the past two years I progressed to removal of all starches, sugars, and processed/packaged everything. Only recently has my body been acting like there is something lacking for the energy I needed.
I have begun the gradual change of reintroducing wild fish and a very small amount of pasture raised poultry and am feeling marvelous. My GI tract is still fighting it but overall, I see improvement. Now I eat about 80% veggies (raw & some cooked), 10% animal meats and 10% seeds/nuts & oils. My body still does not do well with sugars so fruit is a 1-2 times a month kind of item. At 53 I have to say, my physical performance is strong and I have never felt better!
An excellent example of the healing power of diet, and the triumph of experience over mainstream nutritional advice! While it is likely that some of us handle high-plant diets better than others, science tells us that the body digests and absorbs proteins, vitamins and minerals from animal sources far better than those from plant sources. My own personal experience is that a modified low-plant Paleo diet completely reversed all of the “IBS” symptoms I used to have. Grains, beans, nuts and seeds are all very difficult to digest due to the types of proteins and carbohydrates they contain, but even many vegetables, especially if eaten raw, can be challenging to digest as well, given their high fiber content. Meats are easiest on the GI tract, and fruits are a close second (for those that can tolerate fruit sugars and sugar alcohols). All other foods–dairy, veggies (especially crucifers), and seed foods–can be problematic for those with sensitive systems.
“science tells us that the body digests and absorbs proteins, vitamins and minerals from animal sources far better than those from plant sources”
Science from the 50′s maybe. Current science says the opposite. Try reading “The China Study”.
i think it’s really better to switch to paleo diet. vegan diet is somewhat restricting.
This is the most honest comment I’ve read yet.
I do believe the paleo diet is much better but I can tell you exactly what caused your problems. Number 1 are those psyllium concoctions and other colon cleansers. Those have blown up my belly like a balloon and made me sick for 2 days at a time. Number 2 are all the nuts you ate. They are also a digestive disaster. You were eating way too many of those. That happens on a raw diet because you want to eat something to satisfy hunger.
As a school teacher of 20 years (high school science and food technology) I have watched dozens of students (usually girls) deteriorate cognitively and physically as they have ‘gone vegan/vegetarian’.
I admire the passion of the vegans but am relieved that with all that ‘brain fog’ going on they ain’t going to be taking over the world!
As for all the ‘listen to your body and we are all individuals’ nonsense!!!! No there is a hierarchy of quality of macro and micro nutrients and grains come out at the bottom everytime!! And we only have one stomach and we don’t just have molars! We need a varied omnivorous diet!
I’m currently thinking about making the same transition, it’s so refreshing to hear that it’s been done (successfully) before.
As with most modern issues, there are testimonials and countless examples backed by hard science on all sides of this argument. My mom, an MD and fairly outspoken vegan for 5 years, has devoted most of her adult life to finding answers to the questions raised by Jenna’s post. When I gave her the article to read (I like to challenge her views), she said ‘good for her!’, and meant it sincerely.
I think it’s important to do your own research (The China Study – T. Colin Campbell) and experimentation, and tailor a unique solution that works best for YOU. If we hold stead-fast to our testimonials and our science, we’re doing ourselves a disservice.
May I simply just say what a relief to find someone
that genuinely understands what they are discussing on the
internet. You certainly realize how to bring a problem to light and make it
important. More and more people ought to look at this and understand this side of the story.
I can’t believe you’re not more popular since you definitely have the gift.