Why do some thrive and others fail at vegetarianism?
(Photo: Essence.com)
By Alexandra Spunt for NoMoreDirtyLooks.com
Since share is in the air today, I’m going to tell you how it is that I came to abandon twenty or so odd years of vegetarianism in favor of a little conscious meat eating.
I’d like to open up the forum to discuss how it is that some people thrive as vegetarians and vegans, while others flat out fail—and not for lack of trying.
Because as much as Siobhan and I support eating less meat—and probably about 99% of carnivores could stand to cut some out—we mostly support everyone finding what is right for their body. Sans dogma!
Now, I’ve definitely heard people say that cutting out meat and dairy has helped their energy levels, their PMS, their digestion, and their skin! And I truly wish that was my story.
But it’s not. See, several months ago—when I was still a mostly-vegetarian-sometimes-vegan-sometimes-fish-eater—I was not feeling good at all. My digestion was a nightmare, which it had been for years. I was tired to the point of having trouble getting up. My mind was dull. I was generally disinterested by most things. And I wasn’t getting my period. It was just awful.
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Thank you for sharing this. As veganism becomes more popular it’s important for everyone to understand that no one diet works for everyone. Eating more vegetables and listening to your body are the most important things!
Alexandra!
Thank you so much for sharing your own personal experience and for emphasizing how no one diet is right for everyone! I was also vegetarian and vegan for years and ended up doing a lot of damage to my health and the symptoms you describe sound so familiar! I am a holistic nutrition coach and see people in my practice all the time who go through the same thing. While I also see people thriving and feeling great on a vegan/vegetarian diet, others just don’t, despite all their efforts to include enough plant fats, iron and proteins. And Alexandra, just for the record, I’m a Pitta type with blood type B. Maybe it’s easier for the A’s out there?
One of the obstacles for many vegetarians to switch back to a meat eating lifestyle is their ethical conviction, which I truly respect and empathize with! The way we treat animals in the industrial food industry is beyond frightening and not a practice anyone should support, omnivore or vegan!
Here are my two cents on choosing the best meat. I hope this can be helpful for some of you:
http://healthyjourney.tumblr.com/post/11275005307/meat
Thanks again for your honesty Alexandra! There’s enough people out there blindly advocating for a vegan diet for the planet – we need this diversity, understanding and respect for each others choices. Just because you’re vegan, you’re not necessarily a superior being! We all need to make conscious choices based on our own morals, experiences and health.
In good health!
Katrine van Wyk