Positive (side) effects of going vegan

[FaerieSuzy]

Ah that's ok then :D although rubbish for me! haha

[felix_amborosa]

s Oreo suitable for vegans?
Oreo is currently not suitable for vegans because the recipe contains whey powder. We’re also hoping to work on a vegan option soon, so watch this space. Whey-powder free, vegan-happy Oreo will hopefully be available soon. Exciting!

This is from Oreo's UK website.... :/ maybe it's different in other places??
Oreo's in Australia are vegan, shame they aren't in the UK

[sandra]

Having a sense of freedom and peace knowing that you do not contribute to animal suffering...............although I always feel sadness when I pass a field of cows or sheep, at least I can look them in the eye and know that I am not part of their plight.

After years of indigestion and stomach trouble (hiatal hernia and duodenal ulcer) feeling well after becoming vegan. Last medical investigation showed no ulcer and the hernia was gone........they said it must be a 'sliding hernia' whatever that is, but as far as I'm concerned it hasn't troubled me since becoming vegan over 5 years ago now. The best part is I only became vegan because of the animals so the resulting better health is a bonus. :)

[Johnstuff]

First dibs on the vegan cakes when out biking (ie. vegan friends offer me treats) :)

Being the only person at work with a healthy BMI.

[Andy_T]

-You don't have to wash your hands after touching a raw version of your food.


Unfortunately, in Germany, this is no longer possible right now :-(

There is a strain of EHEC (Escheria Coli 137.7) with already 10 dead and hundreds infected, that was presumably transmitted by ... raw vegetables :-(

Of course, the deadly germs are "produced" by intensive animal agriculture, but contamination of vegetables with manure or poisoned water is currently seen as the most likely reason, with cucumbers from Spain and Holland already having been identified as carrying the germ (I guess they were contaminated somewhere in the food logistic, as there are no cases in those countries themselves).

So right now there is a health warning out NOT to eat raw vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes and salad in the North of Germany.
Of course, the omnis and meat addicts are having a field day now ...

Best regards,
Andy

[Johnstuff]

I so hope they make the connection this time: intensive animal farming spreads/causes diseases/viruses/infections. Solution: stop intensive animal farming. I'm willing to bet they'll just use more antibiotics and carry on busness as usual though :(

[harpy]

Of course, the omnis and meat addicts are having a field day now ...

I don't see why, unless they never eat vegetables at all, in which case they have other things to worry about!

[Andy_T]

Well, Harpy, logic is obviously not a meat addicts forte, right?

They are now just gloating that they are happy to get their cholesterol-laden junk food and french fries instead of healthy organic vegetables or the like. Of course, heart attack, diabetes, obesity of something similar will get them, but that takes a longer time. That outbreak is here and now and all over the news.

And the analysis so far is that those affected had 'eaten a significantly higher amount of fresh vegetables than those eating in the same restaurants and not affected.

(So they will continue to gloat until the authorities find out what REALLY caused this outbreak - where by now I am a bit sceptical that it will turn out to be raw veggies)

Best regards,
Andy

[harpy]

Hmm, I suppose eating raw food does carry some risks that eating cooked food doesn't, to the extent that cooking kills some micro-organisms. But anyway I gather the authorities have already decided that the e. coli found on the cucumbers is a different strain from the one associated with these cases of serious illness. I don't see anything to gloat about, either way :(

[CoolCat]

I haven't been following it in much details... so far I heard about tourists being in infected in Germany, now Andy mentions restaurants... did people buying cucumbers/vegetables and preparing themselfs get sick as well ?

Or is the problem restricted to people eating out ?
Tourists would be typical eating prepared food and not cook themselfs...

[harpy]

I don't think the picture is at all clear at the moment, CoolCat. Here's a recent report.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/31/e-coli-deaths-16-germany-sweden?INTCMP=SRCH

There is a suggestion in that article that the use of cattle manure as a fertiliser might be a factor. Obviously that's not a problem with veganic produce, if you can get/grow it.

[Clueless Git]

Oreo's in Australia are vegan, shame they aren't in the UK
'Lo Felix :)

It was a while back now but I found that the Oreos in my local Costco were vegan.

I think Costcos act as a clearance warehouse for their parent compnay Walmart so that may explain why ..

[pat sommer]

The freedom to dig in the rubbish bin. Seriously. My daughter's little friend asked for our beer caps and I said "yes, sure, just threw them in the bin" She was astonished that I would grope around, but, I assured her "what, just a bit of carrot-peel and some empty rice packets". Most definitely an experience she wouldn't attempt in her bin... ;-)

[Korn]

Here's an article (from mnn.com) about the same topic:
Real testimonies: Rewarded for being vegan (http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/real-testimonies-rewarded-for-being-vegan)

[beachbum]

Just joined so can't read all the replies but for me it was simple: dropped 30lbs, Bad chlosterol (spelling) dropped 50 points, blood pressure went to the normal range, no longer had that afternoon slump (post lunch feeling), and other signs of eating a real basic (not acidic) diet...

[BunkyVegan]

The freedom to dig in the rubbish bin
:lol: That cracked me up! I feel the same way, and I also love not feeling the need to obsessively sterilize the kitchen counters to kill the germs from meat, and getting to use the same cutting board for every job!

I've had some pretty dramatic changes:
- A noticeable improvement in my blood circulation - my limbs used to fall asleep all the time, and I could never seem to regulate my body temperature, but it's gotten a LOT better now.
- My eyesight has improved quite a bit - I need glasses for reading and using the computer, and when I used to forget them I would get a bad headache and blurry eyes within a half hour of reading. This improved so much that I now have to remind myself all the time to wear them because I can go hours and hours without my glasses and suffer no ill effects. My eye doctor wrote me a weaker prescription the last time I saw him, and said the only explanation for the improvement is better blood flow due to my diet.
- My digestion improved and I'm more 'regular' now, I sleep a bit better and have less bouts of insomnia, my PMS has gotten better, and I find my thinking is less 'fuzzy' and my memory seems to be a bit better
- Also, the peace and well-being that comes with knowing that my actions now align with my values :)

[maggielassie]

One bonus of being vegan is that you can eat lots more vegetables and fruits. When you're an omni or a lacto-ovo, eating the animal products takes a lot of your appetite and you end up not being hungry for vegetables/fruits any more. No wonder omnis don't eat many vegetables...

[Korn]

When you're an omni or a lacto-ovo, eating the animal products takes a lot of your appetite and you end up not being hungry for vegetables/fruits any more.
...and that's a lot more important than most people think, and a main reason people on a diet including animal products so often are short in antioxidants, vitamin B9 etc.

[veganosie]

I've noticed my asthma is so much better since I gave up dairy. Unfortunately, my dad still suffers from very bad asthma yet won't listen to me. I also feel like I can say that I love animals and not feel like a hypocrite. One downside is that i cannot kiss my boyfriend after he's eated..He ate pizza the other night and had cheese breath..blegh!

[Kateee]

Oh, there are plenty of positive effects of veganism, at least in my case. I think others mentioned them too:

- clearer skin
- no more acne (just very rarely)
- I've lost weight (24 lb./ 11 kg)
- no more PMS and pain(my periods used to last about 5-6 days, now just 1 or 2 days and not even every month:lol:)
- clearer mind and thinking
- I need less sleep than I used to(I used to sleep 10-12 hours to feel okay and now I feel fully charged after a 7-8 hours sleep)
- better digestion, no more obstructions
- better memory
- no more urinal infection(I used to have this 2-3 times a year)
- an inner feeling of peace and contentment
- cleaner teeth
- and many others that I can't name now :bigsmile2:

[adam.rurka]

-Better blood pressure
-Better cholesterol
-Better BMI
-More energy
-Improved athletic performance (in fact, i'm running/biking faster than ever while putting less effort into training)
-Less fatigue
-Doing the planet a favor

[trinity73x]

my skin is so clear and silky smooth. it almost has this glow to it. i have lost weight and enjoy exercising more. my digestive system is oh so happy. i find that i need less sleep to feel alert in the morning. there are also emotional aspects too. i am happier, more self-confident, and i just have this amazing outlook that i never had before. i think about everything differently than i did before. i find myself really caring about our health, economy, and environmental issues.

[splodge]

I'm autistic, and (although I only recently realized there might be a connection) about 7 or 8 months after going vegan I had a massive epiphany and developed "empathy" for want of a better word. I was always sensitive to other people feelings but I could only see them from my point of view. I thought people were talking from some inborn script that I didn't have, and that there was an exact and correct response to every single sentence someone might say. So, before my epiphany, I would memorise every conversation I heard. Then one day I was just reading an interview and I just "got" it. I just suddenly made the connection the people just say what they think, and now when people talk to me I can truly connect with what they're saying and understand their feelings. In that moment it felt like I suddenly understood the whole world and that I was "seeing" for the first time. It was incredible.

I now suspect it's related to veganism because when you have the mental click it causes profound and positive psycological changes that probably alter the structure of your brain. Also when you go vegan you can see the whole world clearer anyway, when you realise that the whole system is wrong and nothing "has" to happen. No person and no animal ever has to die or suffer for you. I "get" equality now. It's like you evolve from being a barbarian and only caring about your own world, to having the ability to function in a theoretical global society.

[Ladygold]

I might have said this before but I can now see pictures of animals and be around animals and not feel like a total ass. This is a selfish side affect I guess but knowing what they went through and pushing it away in my mind so I could eat animals parts and there secretions was painful on my mind and body.
After a few weeks I started I really caring again and that was priceless.

2- Oh and getting rid of all that dairy from my diet cleared up alot of chest / body mucus I had no idea was not normal for humans.

LG

[Bowie]

I'm autistic, and (although I only recently realized there might be a connection) about 7 or 8 months after going vegan I had a massive epiphany and developed "empathy" for want of a better word. I was always sensitive to other people feelings but I could only see them from my point of view. I thought people were talking from some inborn script that I didn't have, and that there was an exact and correct response to every single sentence someone might say. So, before my epiphany, I would memorise every conversation I heard. Then one day I was just reading an interview and I just "got" it. I just suddenly made the connection the people just say what they think, and now when people talk to me I can truly connect with what they're saying and understand their feelings. In that moment it felt like I suddenly understood the whole world and that I was "seeing" for the first time. It was incredible.

I now suspect it's related to veganism because when you have the mental click it causes profound and positive psycological changes that probably alter the structure of your brain. Also when you go vegan you can see the whole world clearer anyway, when you realise that the whole system is wrong and nothing "has" to happen. No person and no animal ever has to die or suffer for you. I "get" equality now. It's like you evolve from being a barbarian and only caring about your own world, to having the ability to function in a theoretical global society.

That is an amazing story and truly moving :). I am so happy for you and, well, you just made my day!

I completely agree about the mental click. Going vegan for me has meant so many different things. My whole perception of the world as a whole has changed, not just my diet. But if something like that can move people to go through experiences like yours, then... well that just proves how going vegan is probably one of the best decisions any human being could ever make. The list of reasons just gets longer and longer and longer...

It would actually be very interesting for there to be more research on the psychological effects that a vegan diet might have on people, as every single study I have read until now has focused mainly on the physical health aspects. That might encourage even more people to go vegan!

This is just great! :D