How has the change to a vegan diet affected you?

[Cal]

My overall health is much improved. I became vegan fifteen years ago and now eat about 75% raw vegan food. Skin improved, nails stronger, digestion better (before veganism I had been a veggie who ate way too much cheese!). :p

Thanks to gertvegan for formatting help. :)

I will now revert to normal font and colour so as not to get on people's nerves!

[Glenda the Good Witch]

I became vegan fifteen years ago and now eat about 75% raw vegan food.

That's brilliant Cal, I admire you!....I wish I could say that! I have been vegetarian for 15 years, but not vegan. I have only been vegan for just over 3 years but always knew in the back of my head that somehow dairy was not right....

[Cal]

That's brilliant Cal, I admire you!....I wish I could say that! I have been vegetarian for 15 years, but not vegan. I have only been vegan for just over 3 years but always knew in the back of my head that somehow dairy was not right....

Hey Glenda TGW I was older than you are when I became vegan so it took me a while!! :o

[Realfood Mary]

Hey Glenda the Good Witch! You look like my slim twin sister! I mean seriously, your face is very similar to mine.

Before I was vegan I was suffering from the most horrendous ulcerative colitis, and in fact I was told that I would probably need a colostomy bag by the time I was in my mid thirties. I was on contant pain killers, and some drug or other that turned my skin and eyeballs orange. (Salozapyrine?) Since going vegan I haven't needed any medication for colitis, not even pain killers. Maybe once or twice a year I have a mild flair up. I used to be severely anaemic, as I regularly lost so much blood in my faeces. So much healthier!

My periods are still painful. I am a healthier weight than I used to be, 12 stone at 5 foot ten. Before my heaviest was something like 13.10, partly because the drugs caused fluid retention, and partly because I never had the energy to excercise.

Now I do karate, weights and running regularly, and look pretty good. And no sign of a colostomy bag, although I am 34. I may still need one when I am older, but I have certainly put off the dreadful day!

[feline01]

Yes, I used to feel awful about eating animal products and since going vegan, I don't feel that way anymore :D !

[Franny]

I'm not sure if it's related, but I seem to be sleeping much better. I've always had difficulty staying asleep, and since the vegan diet I really haven't.

[feline01]

I can't definitely prove this but I truly believe 100% that I would not have had such a great pregnancy if I wasn't vegan. I was pregnant with twins and very overweight and since 70% of all twin pregnancies end up on bedrest at some point-my obstetrician was convinced that I would be one of those woman by 20 weeks. I worked full-time up to my 36th week even with a 50-mile a day commute (ok, hubby had to drive my the last 3+ months since I couldn't fit behind the steering wheel anymore :o ) and had the kids 2 days after I was actually pulled out of work but not put on bedrest. I believe that if I was eating SAD, I would have most definitely been put on bedrest and had pregnancy complications.

[Evilfluffbunny]

No negatives I can think of at all! I felt better psychologically and also suffered much less from period pain and 'gacky' chest etc.

The only negative is being seen as even more of a weirdo than before, but that's other peoples problem, not mine. :)

[Imapeach]

I had PCOS before i went vegan... i was vegetarian and the gyno told me the only way to cure the symptoms was to eat meat (some crap about protein)... so i did that for a while and nothing changed. Finally decided i'd rather die than eat meat and went vegan.... and all my symptoms disappeared almost immediately! Moral of the story? Don't take dietary advice from a gyno!

[Glen]

I had (have) pretty bad clinical depression and insomnia. Turning vegan definately helped be sleep. My diet improved ten-fold and I think it was because I felt less bloated, had less crappy sugar off biscuits and other crap and it also helped me through the day. Probably because it gives my body a better balance of nutrients than my previous diet.

As a result of that balance I do feel more equipped to cope and I don't feel as lethargic during the day. :)

[Nivvie]

My cycle used to be a joke, sometimes I'd have two periods a month, sometimes they'd last a fortnight, so it was hard to tell when one ended and one began.
Once I went vegan, things got way more normal.

On the sleep side, I used to sleep like a log, but now I find it hard to nod off. I think it's due to extra energy, as I don't feel lethargic during the day. I think I just don't need as much sleep as I used to, as my body doesn't have to spend the night processing the Jammie Dodgers and Snickers of the day before.

[Realfood Mary]

I went vegan from veggie when pregnant. My health began to improve, and I started gaining weight (which I needed, having lost 2 stone.) My son was thriving, but only when I went vegan did I start to thrive.

Then my colitis has cleared up, and I no longer need medication for that.

[Nivvie]

Imapeach what's PCOS? Or shouldn't I ask :o .

I know I shouldn't answer other people's questions, but I couldn't resist posting a link.

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm#1

[Pilaf]

I longed to truely live up to what it means to be Straightedge..until I went vegan I felt like a hypocrite.

[Tigerlily]

My headaches have been cut by about 90%! Seriously. Dairy, I believe, was the main culprit to my horrible sinus pressure headaches.

[littleTigercub]

I do admit that I do not feel healthier myself but my purse does! This is not necessarily because vegan ingredients are generally cheaper, but they are hard to get when you are out, so instead of buying a Greggs sandwich several times a week, I have become really organised and bring my own five days a week! *proud*

littleTigercub

[gertvegan]

I do admit that I do not feel healthier myself but my purse does!Have a look at the cost of vegan food (http://veganforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482&highlight=expensive) thread about um .... the cost of vegan food. ;)

[DoveInGreyClothing]

My IBS,asthma and eczema are a lot better thank you.
And if I have a cold or hay fever next to no mucus since quitting dairy!

[Brownie]

I used to be anemic when I ate meat and I would pass out a lot during the day, but ever since I went vegan, I haven't passed out in ages! :) I feel MUCH healthier now. Yay me.

[adam antichrist]

I was on some drug that turned my skin and eyeballs orange.

Ewww, I hope you've done a good detox diet! That is some serious liver toxicity when you change colour! :D

[Realfood Mary]

I'm fine now! But yes, I looked like a carrot for years. :p

Mary

[my3labs]

I'm not sure if it's related, but I seem to be sleeping much better. I've always had difficulty staying asleep, and since the vegan diet I really haven't.

Franny,
I used to have huge insomnia problems...taking all sorts of prescritions like Ambien. I am so happy to say that since I have become a vegan, I sleep like a baby. I still wake up when my hubby wakes up for work (about 5:00 am) but I quickly go back to sleep and my doggies wake me up for good around 8:00. Ok, I'm spoiled, I work from home and run my own business.
Lucky me!!
I love being a vegan. It has changed my life!

[Mozbee]

I went to see an Epilepsy Nurse on Friday about the side-effects of my medication. I gave her a copy of the table I've kept up to date with diet changes and seizure numbers per year. She agreed that going vegan can reduce epileptic seizures.

1995-1997 each years total over 200 seizures (I was vegetarian)
1998 Stopped eating eggs 138 seizures :)
1999 102 seizures
2000 November went vegan 46seizures :D
2001 46 seizures (stressful operation)
2002 30 seizures
2003 20 seizures
2004 2 seizures :cool:

Suggestion - if you know anyone who has epilepsy, print this out, tell em, go vegan :p

Love Mozbee!

[puffin]

Thats great news Mozbee :)

[feline01]

Fantastic, Mozbee!!

On a similar note, my coworker put her youngest son, who is diagnosed with seizure disorder, ADHD and autism on the Feingold diet. This diet is centered around whole-grains, fruit, veg, no dairy, no artificial colors or sweeteners....hmm, sound familiar?? Anyway, since she put her son on this diet, people have asked her what medication he's been on because his behavior have improved so much.