Giving it a try
Hi, my name is Nicole, I'm 29 and I am trying a vegan diet. I never thought I would say that. I used to be on the Nourishing Traditions/traditional foods/Jordan Rubin/Dr. Mercola/anti-vegan bandwagon. But I got terribly sick (colitis from a parasitic and yeast infection that lasted for 1 1/2 yrs because I tried to treat it naturally. Meds finally cleared it up several months ago) so I don't think that worked for me.
Besides that after watching Food, Inc (I am not really a PETA person, I am concerned with the human suffering involved and the environment), a distant relative healing from endometriosis by going vegan so now my Mom is trying it, because we are living on one income now and can't afford high quality animal products, etc etc I am giving it a try. Colon and hormonal problems are 2 things a vegan diet is scientifically proven to be protective and healing for.
I have been flexitarian for several months so it won't be a huge shift (and was dairy free for 1 1/2 yrs as I couldn't digest it, so already know the withdrawl thing), and I am craving nothing but plant food so I think it's a sign. I don't think I will feel deprived much at all. I have a feeling I will feel great and stick with it, but I have nothing to lose trying it for a few months.
I think you'll see that there are many, many, many vegans who don't like PETA whether they went vegan for animal rights reasons or not. You won't be alone in that one. Other than that, welcome to VegWeb and welcome to veganism! If you have any questions or need any help just ask, there's always people ready and willing to help out.
I don't know what Nourishing Traditions is exactly but I've started to hear a lot about them, nothing positive though.
Minke - I think Nourishing Traditions is a whole foods movement or a recipe book or something. It gets part of it right (that whole foods are healthier than processed foods) and part of it wrong (that people need animal fats and cholesterol). They compare animal fats to processed vegetable oil instead of whole foods plant-based fats, which are fine. In terms of cholesterol, the human liver makes all the cholesterol we need - it doesn't need to be supplemented.
nicolelynn - Minke's right. Among vegans, PETA looks particularly goofy because they're screaming about animal rights while continuing to participate in supplying demand for eggs and dairy. Not everyone is vegan for animal right's reasons, but pretty much everyone sees the discrepancy.
Not to mention the other 1048458585 reasons to hate PETA.
Hi & welcome!
I was pescetarian for years (eggs & dairy included); went full-time herbivore 'on a 30 day trial' a little over a year ago, b/c of several reasons-- but health high among them (emerging arthritis at 38, & worsening endometriosis)... after 2 weeks basically went 'holycrap, I feel amazingly good & my conscience is, like, *so* satisfied! wtf was I thinking? Plants, please!'... & have been so very glad, ever since, that I 'tried' it!
Physically, I feel outstanding (higher energy, better sleep, easier maintenance of healthy weight, less colds/ illness, etc), and as a health care professional I appreciate the reduced risk of stroke/ diabetes/ cancer/ heart disease/ hypertension/ Alzheimers/ etc; plus, spiritually/ ethically, it's a match between my inside & my outside (i.e. what I think & what I do-- I value compassion/ my diet is consistent with that); and the reduced environmental impact of a plant-based diet is well documented, which is also important to me... In short, my only regret is that it took so long to get here...
Glad you're here! Shout for help as needed, with new ingredients or dealing with restaurants or anything at all... & enjoy your veganventure!! Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
:)
Welcome to VegWeb.....you don't have to be anything or anyone other than who you are.
Tweety said it best, live your life the way you want to. I understand the bad relationship many people have with PETA, which is why you need to do what you feel comfortable with. Hope your diet changes help with your condition.
Welcome!