Vegan Anyone?

A dietary experiment

Published on January 2, 2006 By MasonM In Blogging

As some of you know I have suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS) most of my life. It's a painful, unpleasant condition the details of which I won't go into here. Suffice it to say that it has a serious negative impact on the quality of my life.

I have seen many doctors over the years, tried many prescription and nonpresecription remedies, none of which really helped all that much. Diet seems to be a strong factor in how bad symptoms are at a given time. I never drink milk as it is a powerful and immediate trigger. I rarely eat ice cream and when I do the effects are negative and immediate. I do, however eat far too much cheese on pizza, mac n cheese, and assorted other foods even though I know it has a negative effect on my symptoms.

Grease is also a powerful trigger and I try to avoid overly greasy foods even though I do eat a lot of meat, all of which contain some fats.

Between what I know of my personal symptoms, and many many hours of reading, I have decided to try an experiment and try a Vegan diet for a while to see what effect this has on my symptoms and general health. Note I said Vegan and not Vegitarian, as there is a difference. Many vegitarians still eat cheese and other dairy products, while Vegans eat no animal products of any kind and are more of a true vegitarian.

I won't dive into this all at once for practical reasons. I just bought groceries before deciding on this experiment, so I will not waste the food. I'll eat what I have, and replace those items as I go until I am ready to start. The first week of the new diet, starting next week, will be to remove all dairy products from my diet and see what effect that has on it's own. After a week, depending on the results, I will progress to removing all meat from my diet as well to see if there is any additional benefit or not.

I have no moral qualms about eating our animal brethren. But if removing dairy from my diet helps my overall health and well being I am all for it. If removing said animal brethren from my diet improves my quality of life, so be it.

Anyone here already a Vegan or eating a Vegan styled diet? If so, have you noticed any tangible benefits other than feeling warm and fuzzy about not eating critters?

Anyone considered it?

Comments

ParaTed2k

on Jan 02, 2006

Your own health is a great reason to try a Vegan style diet. I have had to give up things I like because they cause more pain than pleasure, so I understand your motivations. I am far too carnivorous to give up meat & dairy, but then again, I haven't seen either as a problem.

Good luck with your experiment, I hope you find something that works for you!

MasonM

on Jan 02, 2006

Thanks, Ted. I am pretty much a meat eater myself which is why I am going to eliminate diary products first to see how it goes before going fully into an all plant-based diet.

While I may miss the meat, if it helps my health condition it will be more than worth it. If nothing else, it should be an interesting experiment either way.

KarmaGirl

on Jan 02, 2006

My liver stores too much fat, so eating meat and fatty foods makes me feel like I have a hangover. So, I eat a primarily vegetarian diet (I eat fish now and then since Omega3 fatty acids help reduce "bad" fats). I don't eat too much dairy, and the dairy I do have is typically low or no fat.

Meat and dairy are really hard on a lot of peoples digestive systems, so I would think that it would be worth a try.

Since you are a meat eater, you may want to look into buying meat "substitutes" until you get adjusted to not eating meat. They make a lot of texturized products that resemble meat, so it makes it a bit easier to adjust. Quorn makes some "chic" patties that are really close to what I remember chicken being like (I sometimes falter and eat red meat, even though it's totally toxic to me, but I don't ever eat chicken because I hate chickens....but that is a different story). Boca burgers are also a good "veggie" burger for people who are used to eating meat. They are made of seasoned texturized soy, versus grain. Though, if you are going strict vegan (which is really hard) Boca does contain small amount of dairy (typically cheese).

I don't know if you can eat nuts due to IBS, but nuts are a great source of protein and most contain Omega3 fatty acids.

One downfall of people trying to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet is carb overload. Be careful not to replace all the meat that you used to eat with carbs. Plan meals around veggies, then add protein, then add carbs.

Ziggystyles

on Jan 02, 2006

You are a brave, brave man. I don't know if I could give up meat, sometimes I go without it for a while and I then just get a craving for it.

Is it any meat in particular, like beef, pork, chicken, seafood that messes with you or is it any meat in general?

I agree with Karma...try some meat substitutions like soy burgers. Wal Mart has a decent selection in their freezer area of a brand (cant think of the name.....in a green box)

Good luck!

KarmaGirl

on Jan 02, 2006

(cant think of the name.....in a green box)

Those are morningstar farms. They make a really good parmesan ranch chic patty. Their regular chic patties are good, too, as are their chic nuggets. Boca "chicken" products are not so good, though.

Dr Guy

on Jan 02, 2006

Sorry Mason! Along came Polly!

As I get older, yea, it gets worse. But I guess I will die young and sated! It has really kicked in since I went on the HBP stuff!

But I love meat!

MasonM

on Jan 02, 2006

#3 by KarmaGirl
Monday, January 02, 2006
I don't know if you can eat nuts due to IBS, but nuts are a great source of protein and most contain Omega3 fatty acids.

One downfall of people trying to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet is carb overload. Be careful not to replace all the meat that you used to eat with carbs. Plan meals around veggies, then add protein, then add carbs.

Yeah I can eat small amounts of some nuts even though it does seem like cannibalism

Sounds like good advice and info. I'll watch the carbs.

MasonM

on Jan 02, 2006

Is it any meat in particular, like beef, pork, chicken, seafood that messes with you or is it any meat in general?

It's really the fat and grease from meat more than the meat itself, but it's almost impossible to eat meat without at least getting some fat with it. It's really more the dairy that bothers me most.

I agree with Karma...try some meat substitutions like soy burgers. Wal Mart has a decent selection in their freezer area of a brand (cant think of the name.....in a green box)

Those are morningstar farms. They make a really good parmesan ranch chic patty. Their regular chic patties are good, too, as are their chic nuggets. Boca "chicken" products are not so good, though.

I'll look for those. As long as they don't contain dairy, they may be worth trying.

MasonM

on Jan 02, 2006

#6 by Dr. Guy
Monday, January 02, 2006

[Dr. Guy]

Sorry Mason! Along came Polly!

As I get older, yea, it gets worse. But I guess I will die young and sated! It has really kicked in since I went on the HBP stuff!

But I love meat!

I like meat too, but sadly it just doesn't like me. If the experiment turns out well and my symptoms improve it will be worth it to do without. If not, well I can always go back to eating cheeseburgers.

Locamama

on Jan 02, 2006

I have tried to have a meatless day once a week. More for health reasons than concerns about eating things that have eyes. I don't care if they have eyes as long as I don't have to look in them before I eat it. I mainly eat pasta with vegetables on my meatless days. I should try some new things. I seem to get in a rut.

I regularly decide that I am going to cut red meat out of my diet but it never lasts too long. I love a good steak, hamburger, beef brisket, ribs. Dang it I live in Texas and the barbecue is good. I guess I should just try to limit it to one day a week and stick with fish and chicken the rest of the time.

Good luck with your new diet. I hope it makes you feel better.

Karma

don't ever eat chicken because I hate chickens....but that is a different story

I would think that hating chickens would be even more of a reason to eat them. I hate you but you sure taste yummy! ha ha.

MasonM

on Jan 02, 2006

#10 by Locamama
Monday, January 02, 2006

You would have to mention barbeque, wouldn't you? That's hitting below the belt!

Locamama

on Jan 02, 2006

Sorry Mason. Just limit yourself to once a month as an extra special treat?

Furry Canary

on Jan 04, 2006

Best of luck, Mason. Some 15 years ago, I went vegan for a week, as an experiment to see if it helped relieve nasal congestion. It did, within a couple of days, and I've been vegan ever since, with no regrets whatsoever. Believe me, you can still be an enthusiastic 'foodie' on a vegan diet.

MasonM

on Jan 04, 2006

So far, so good. No meat/dairy withdrawls :

:

I made a very good spaghetti last night, meatless sauce. Tonight I am making navy beans, brown rice, and a nice spinach salad with a home made tomato based salad dressing.

KarmaGirl

on Jan 04, 2006

Tonight I am making navy beans, brown rice, and a nice spinach salad with a home made tomato based salad dressing.

mmm...that sounds yummy! Raspberry vinaigrette is also a good vegan dressing (I like it on a salad of mixed greens with nuts and dried cherries on it)

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