Guest guest Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Hi everyone! My name is Erin, and I'm a recent college grad who has been attempting the vegetarian lifestyle her whole life. It started when I was ten, and decided that I simply could not eat anything with a face. It was a very childlike mentality, I suppose, but it's still the way I feel, over a decade later. My family thinks it's wrong to abstain from eating meat for merely " sentimental " reasons and are concerned that veganism is my religion, but I am proud of my decision and feel a more spiritual connection to the planet. I tried going vegan as a kid, too, though I wasn't even familiar with the term at the time; I just thought eggs were gross, and I never liked drinking milk or eating cheese. In my twenties I found out I was lactose-intolerant, so that explained why I've never been crazy about dairy products! Unfortunately, I struggle to be a true vegan, simply because I can't always afford fresh fruits, veggies and grains, and sometimes need to supplement my pasta with some parmesan, or something. Eating out is even tougher, and I'm always going out with my friends. Over the years I've even fallen off the vegetarian wagon at times, simply because I've gotten sick from not eating a complete diet. My doctors encouraged me to go back to being an omnivore for a while. I tried it, but I never felt any better. So over the past year I've gradually gone back to vegetarianism; I've been trying veganism the past few months. Truthfully, it's not going so well. I feel better eating this way, but my health has been suffering. I've been to a nutritionist, and I make meal plans and cook healthy vegetarian food, but I've been struck with a series of health problems that I wonder about being related to a high soy intake. I hate to put a damper on the wonderful vegetarian lifestyle, but does anyone else feel my pain? How many of you have struggled to go veggie and stay healthy? Does anyone know of any specific health problems related to vegetarianism? That sounds silly, because everything I've ever read insists that herbivores are healthier than omnivores. My doctors don't think my health issues are diet-related, but I still wonder about the soy. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 When I read your post I could relate to a few points and I felt I needed to tell you a few things. I got real sick a few years ago. My doctors could not tell me what was wrong. I spent many months in and out of the hospital. They told me I had lupus ( I don't), then thay told me I was diabetic( I am not). My speech started suffering and werid nerological side effects happened So after many many test. One doctor ( i had 7) decided to check my B12. I was severly B12 lacking. They started me on B12 shots right away. I still give myself the shot twice a month. My doctor said it was because I did not eat animal products. I had damaged nerological connections that ca not get better. I now stutter. I started eating meat, and within a few months my cholestor went sky high, so I had to take a med. My stomach hurt all the time( another daily med) I gained 30 lbs ( I was now fat) So now I was eating animals, on 3 types of meds and fat. Last Oct. I deciede I had enough. I stopped eating animals I am off those pills and my cholestoral is 176. I have been slowly sheading the weight. The most important test I think is to have your doctor check your B12. It is not a test that is normally used. It is not in your yearly blood work. PLease request that test every single year. I was so sick for a full year and it boiled down to B12. I know fresh veggie can be expensive, but worth the cost of good health. Try to balance meals, make them count. Bless you erinc_dale <erin.c.dale wrote: Hi everyone! My name is Erin, and I'm a recent college grad who has been attempting the vegetarian lifestyle her whole life. It started when I was ten, and decided that I simply could not eat anything with a face. It was a very childlike mentality, I suppose, but it's still the way I feel, over a decade later. My family thinks it's wrong to abstain from eating meat for merely " sentimental " reasons and are concerned that veganism is my religion, but I am proud of my decision and feel a more spiritual connection to the planet. I tried going vegan as a kid, too, though I wasn't even familiar with the term at the time; I just thought eggs were gross, and I never liked drinking milk or eating cheese. In my twenties I found out I was lactose-intolerant, so that explained why I've never been crazy about dairy products! Unfortunately, I struggle to be a true vegan, simply because I can't always afford fresh fruits, veggies and grains, and sometimes need to supplement my pasta with some parmesan, or something. Eating out is even tougher, and I'm always going out with my friends. Over the years I've even fallen off the vegetarian wagon at times, simply because I've gotten sick from not eating a complete diet. My doctors encouraged me to go back to being an omnivore for a while. I tried it, but I never felt any better. So over the past year I've gradually gone back to vegetarianism; I've been trying veganism the past few months. Truthfully, it's not going so well. I feel better eating this way, but my health has been suffering. I've been to a nutritionist, and I make meal plans and cook healthy vegetarian food, but I've been struck with a series of health problems that I wonder about being related to a high soy intake. I hate to put a damper on the wonderful vegetarian lifestyle, but does anyone else feel my pain? How many of you have struggled to go veggie and stay healthy? Does anyone know of any specific health problems related to vegetarianism? That sounds silly, because everything I've ever read insists that herbivores are healthier than omnivores. My doctors don't think my health issues are diet-related, but I still wonder about the soy. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Hey Erin, My husband and I were vegetarians for several years, but were not feeling right. We ate a lot of soy cheeses, lunch meats and products with soy protein isolate and concentrate. We had low energy levels and some digestive problems. This stopped when we stopped eating all those soy products. Fermented soy products are good, but unfermented soy which is used in many products in the US can cause problems with the body absorbing some needed vitamins and minerals. And soy protein isolate or concentrate contains high amounts of aluminum. We were shocked when we Googled soy, dangers and aluminum. Just do some internet searches and you'll see what I mean. I hope you figure out the problem you are having and get to feeling better. We have been eating poultry and fish for a few years. but are now going vegetarian again. I recently went on a 2-day fruit fast and ate just fruits and veggies a day or two before and after. Between that and reading posts on this site, I've really lost the taste for any meat. It just feels right. Does anyone have a good recipe for veggie burgers without soy? Kat , " erinc_dale " <erin.c.dale wrote: > > > I hate to put a damper on the wonderful vegetarian lifestyle, but does > anyone else feel my pain? How many of you have struggled to go veggie > and stay healthy? Does anyone know of any specific health problems > related to vegetarianism? That sounds silly, because everything I've > ever read insists that herbivores are healthier than omnivores. > > My doctors don't think my health issues are diet-related, but I still > wonder about the soy. What do you think? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 > Fermented soy products are good, but unfermented soy > which is used in many products in the US can cause problems with the > body absorbing some needed vitamins and minerals. Which soy products are " fermented? " Which soy products are " unfermented? " Most legumes -- kidney beans and related varieties, soy beans, peanuts -- contain trypsin inhibitors, which block the action of the trypsin made in the pancreas and reduce the absorption of nutrients, including the nutrients in the legumes themselves. That's why we don't (or at least shouldn't) eat raw or insufficiently cooked beans. (Even if we think that 'raw' foods are inherently more nutritious!) As for aluminum -- it's in just about everything we eat: aluminum is one of the most common chemical elements in the earth's crust, and is in all of our topsoil. If you believe everything you find about nutrition on google, and act on it, you won't be able to eat ANYTHING at all. jrfm mini_blond wrote: > > Hey Erin, > My husband and I were vegetarians for several years, but were not > feeling right. We ate a lot of soy cheeses, lunch meats and products > with soy protein isolate and concentrate. We had low energy levels and > some digestive problems. This stopped when we stopped eating all those > soy products. Fermented soy products are good, but unfermented soy > which is used in many products in the US can cause problems with the > body absorbing some needed vitamins and minerals. And soy protein > isolate or concentrate contains high amounts of aluminum. We were > shocked when we Googled soy, dangers and aluminum. Just do some > internet searches and you'll see what I mean. I hope you figure out the > problem you are having and get to feeling better. > We have been eating poultry and fish for a few years. but are now going > vegetarian again. I recently went on a 2-day fruit fast and ate just > fruits and veggies a day or two before and after. Between that and > reading posts on this site, I've really lost the taste for any meat. It > just feels right. Does anyone have a good recipe for veggie burgers > without soy? > > Kat > > <%40>, " erinc_dale " <erin.c.dale > wrote: > > > > > > I hate to put a damper on the wonderful vegetarian lifestyle, but does > > anyone else feel my pain? How many of you have struggled to go veggie > > and stay healthy? Does anyone know of any specific health problems > > related to vegetarianism? That sounds silly, because everything I've > > ever read insists that herbivores are healthier than omnivores. > > > > My doctors don't think my health issues are diet-related, but I still > > wonder about the soy. What do you think? > > > > > ------ > > > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.4/1476 - Release 5/31/2008 12:25 PM > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 > Which soy products are " fermented? " Which soy products are " unfermented? " Miso, natto, tempeh and tamari/soy sauce where the ingredients are just soybeas, water , salt and maybe wheat. All other soy products are unfermented. > Most legumes -- kidney beans and related varieties, soy beans, peanuts > -- contain trypsin inhibitors, which block the action of the trypsin > made in the pancreas and reduce the absorption of nutrients, including > the nutrients in the legumes themselves. That's why we don't (or at > least shouldn't) eat raw or insufficiently cooked beans. (Even if we > think that 'raw' foods are inherently more nutritious!) Phytase also blocks the absorption of nutrients from grains, nuts, and seeds. Soaking them 7-24 hours in a slightly acidic solution before cooking will greatly increase the nutrition you can absorb from these foods. > As for aluminum -- it's in just about everything we eat: aluminum is > one of the most common chemical elements in the earth's crust, and is in > all of our topsoil. There's natural amounts of aluminum, then there's unnatural amounts. I agree that it is unavoidable, but with all of the solid research connecting excess aluminum with Alzheimer's and other brain disorders, it's very wise to avoid it where you can. KerryAnn www.cookingtf.com www.tfrecipes.com/forum/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Wow, Robin. Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry to hear you suffered such severe health issues... mine have been frustrating, but not quite that bad. I'm living with some things that may simply be in my biochemical makeup, and the last time I went to my doc (today, actually!), he confirmed that my problems most likely have nothing to do with my diet. I'll definitely look into the B12 thing though... I notice I'm at my healthiest when taking a multivitamin that contains iron and B12, some things vegans tend to miss out on. I just hate taking pills (feels weird and unnatural to me), but it does seem to help, at least for now. I'll definitely take your advice and look into B12. I hope you are doing well now, and thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my little query. Peace, Erin , Robin Chaloune <rchaloune wrote: > > When I read your post I could relate to a few points and I felt I needed to tell you a few things. I got real sick a few years ago. My doctors could not tell me what was wrong. I spent many months in and out of the hospital. They told me I had lupus ( I don't), then thay told me I was diabetic( I am not). My speech started suffering and werid nerological side effects happened So after many many test. One doctor ( i had 7) decided to check my B12. I was severly B12 lacking. They started me on B12 shots right away. I still give myself the shot twice a month. My doctor said it was because I did not eat animal products. I had damaged nerological connections that ca not get better. I now stutter. I started eating meat, and within a few months my cholestor went sky high, so I had to take a med. My stomach hurt all the time( another daily med) I gained 30 lbs ( I was now fat) So now I was eating animals, on 3 types of meds and fat. Last Oct. I deciede I had enough. I stopped > eating animals I am off those pills and my cholestoral is 176. I have been slowly sheading the weight. > > The most important test I think is to have your doctor check your B12. It is not a test that is normally used. It is not in your yearly blood work. PLease request that test every single year. I was so sick for a full year and it boiled down to B12. > I know fresh veggie can be expensive, but worth the cost of good health. Try to balance meals, make them count. > > Bless you > erinc_dale <erin.c.dale wrote: > Hi everyone! > > My name is Erin, and I'm a recent college grad who has been attempting > the vegetarian lifestyle her whole life. It started when I was ten, > and decided that I simply could not eat anything with a face. It was a > very childlike mentality, I suppose, but it's still the way I feel, > over a decade later. My family thinks it's wrong to abstain from > eating meat for merely " sentimental " reasons and are concerned that > veganism is my religion, but I am proud of my decision and feel a more > spiritual connection to the planet. > > I tried going vegan as a kid, too, though I wasn't even familiar with > the term at the time; I just thought eggs were gross, and I never > liked drinking milk or eating cheese. In my twenties I found out I was > lactose-intolerant, so that explained why I've never been crazy about > dairy products! > > Unfortunately, I struggle to be a true vegan, simply because I can't > always afford fresh fruits, veggies and grains, and sometimes need to > supplement my pasta with some parmesan, or something. Eating out is > even tougher, and I'm always going out with my friends. Over the years > I've even fallen off the vegetarian wagon at times, simply because > I've gotten sick from not eating a complete diet. My doctors > encouraged me to go back to being an omnivore for a while. I tried it, > but I never felt any better. So over the past year I've gradually gone > back to vegetarianism; I've been trying veganism the past few months. > > Truthfully, it's not going so well. I feel better eating this way, but > my health has been suffering. I've been to a nutritionist, and I make > meal plans and cook healthy vegetarian food, but I've been struck with > a series of health problems that I wonder about being related to a > high soy intake. > > I hate to put a damper on the wonderful vegetarian lifestyle, but does > anyone else feel my pain? How many of you have struggled to go veggie > and stay healthy? Does anyone know of any specific health problems > related to vegetarianism? That sounds silly, because everything I've > ever read insists that herbivores are healthier than omnivores. > > My doctors don't think my health issues are diet-related, but I still > wonder about the soy. What do you think? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Hi Kat, Thanks for your response. I, too, have been a vegetarian off and on over the years, and never had health issues as difficult as the ones I'm facing now... and come to think of it, the problems really seemed to begin after I began eating more processed soy in an attempt to go vegan. It's just convenient to grab those frozen soy dinners, like soy mac and cheese, to tote to work, you know? I also ate a lot of fake meat and soy cheeze... now it kind of grosses me out. I sometimes wonder... isn't it a little bizarre that so many vegetarians and vegans depend on these fake meats to get us through and help us feel " normal " ? If you're a vegetarian for ethical reasons, you may think it's a little sick to eat things that resemble and taste like real meat. LOL. I don't know, I guess I'm just becoming more hardcore lately, but it totally icks me out! Though I definitely ate a tofu dog on Memorial Day... I've been Googling soy, and there is definitely a lot of negative press out there! I'll try sticking with the unprocessed stuff and see if that helps. Thanks Kat! Peace, Erin , " mini_blond " <mini_blond wrote: > > Hey Erin, > My husband and I were vegetarians for several years, but were not > feeling right. We ate a lot of soy cheeses, lunch meats and products > with soy protein isolate and concentrate. We had low energy levels and > some digestive problems. This stopped when we stopped eating all those > soy products. Fermented soy products are good, but unfermented soy > which is used in many products in the US can cause problems with the > body absorbing some needed vitamins and minerals. And soy protein > isolate or concentrate contains high amounts of aluminum. We were > shocked when we Googled soy, dangers and aluminum. Just do some > internet searches and you'll see what I mean. I hope you figure out the > problem you are having and get to feeling better. > We have been eating poultry and fish for a few years. but are now going > vegetarian again. I recently went on a 2-day fruit fast and ate just > fruits and veggies a day or two before and after. Between that and > reading posts on this site, I've really lost the taste for any meat. It > just feels right. Does anyone have a good recipe for veggie burgers > without soy? > > Kat > , " erinc_dale " <erin.c.dale@> > wrote: > > > > > > I hate to put a damper on the wonderful vegetarian lifestyle, but does > > anyone else feel my pain? How many of you have struggled to go veggie > > and stay healthy? Does anyone know of any specific health problems > > related to vegetarianism? That sounds silly, because everything I've > > ever read insists that herbivores are healthier than omnivores. > > > > My doctors don't think my health issues are diet-related, but I still > > wonder about the soy. What do you think? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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