Any organic, health, or holistic-minded vegans here?

[veganpixie]

Any organic, health, or holistic-minded vegans here?

I'd like to know if there are any vegans here who are not just about compassionate animal rights vegans, but also genuinely interested in living healthier, greener, and organically, and making efforts to live as naturally as possible, keeping petro-chemicals out of their life - food, beverages, personal care, cosmetics, cleaning. I'd also like to know if anyone here is passionate about herbs and holistic medicine, vs. (gasp, gulp, please forgive my boldness ) unhealthy pharmaceutical meds that have dangerous side effects.
Inquiring minds want to know. ;-) Don't be shy. Please share your thoughts.

[eve]

hello veganpixie
I'm certainly living as much as possible a healthier greener life than many people around me. I'm also totally uninterested in consumerism and buy the least possible. I'm not interested in medications whether they are pharmaceutical, or herbal or holistic.

Your boldness is welcome.

[Healthy]

Hey Vegan Pixie!

I owe you an email

Great thread and add me to this list!

I'm vegan mainly for the animals; second for my health and third for the environment.

When I'm not dining out I eat all organic and as much raw as possible. I buy the most natural cosmetics, but most important is that they don't test on animals and don't use animal by-products.

I'm also big on yoga.

[paragonx]

I buy organic when i can. I have an organic veg. garden that i started last year.
I am interested in natural healing and avoid perscriptions and over the counter medications at all costs.
I am interested in the enviroment and know that i should do more.

[Sluggie]

I originally went vegan principally for environmental reasons. I try to buy everything organic - food, toiletries, clothes. I buy much less stuff than I used to and never buy anything without considering it's impact on the world. Although some organic stuff is expensive, overall I spend less than I used to as an omni.

[prawnsize]

Yes!! eco friendly cleaning products, natural cosmetics, organic food whenever possible, recycled products, fairtrade products and I heal naturally! I love the natural life! I think it's important to support the people trying to make a difference so I'm happy to spend the extra cash!!

[insubordination]

*Butts in*

Eve - wrong thread I know but I'm trying to rid myself of all non-essential possessions. It's good practice as I'm going to backpack for a year next year. I've pretty much been very successful (no crockery, appliances, paper mess, fewer clothes etc.) and have managed to save quite an amazing amount of money since I stopped buying things.

I have hit a stumbling block. I have 4 boxes of books (one of them vegan related but with waaaay too many magazines in there), 2 boxes of DVDs and 3 boxes of CDs and I just can't seem to get rid of them because I've convinced myself that I love them and that they are worth money, though I know I'll only ever use 10% of them again. Can you give me some encouragement to get rid of it all? Then I'll have to sell my car *breathe in, breathe out*.

Back to your thread. Didn't want to start a new one for this purpose.

[Roxy]

Hi veganpixie - I'd like to join in this thread too

I purchase organic fruits and vegetables and if there is an organic option available with regards to other groceries (eg, pasta, rice, cookies), I buy those too.

I try to use natural personal hygeine and skin care products although I'm sure not all of my make-up is as earth-friendly as it should be, even though it is vegan.

I use essential oils in many ways, to heal ailments ranging from emotional to physical. I'd like to know more about using plants in other ways for healing, and not just for their oils.

I stoped using hormonal birth control about 1 and a half months ago, because I wanted my body to start to fall into it's own natural rhythm.

I've also used crystal therapy and have worked with colour therapy too - although I have had an eating disorder in the past, and found that using colour therapy with foods was too involved and restrictive for my liking.

[eve]

insubordination, would it really upset you to donate your books and cds to a charity shop such as the Salvation Army? They would be happy. As to selling your car; can you wait until you're practically ready to go backpacking? I recall when I went abroad, intending a one year break to recover from a trauma, but en route to the UK I stopped off in Thailand, and stayed there for just under four years! I even ordained as a buddhist nun. I never got to England at that time, but had to return to Australia for family reasons, otherwise I'd be there still! But hopefully your year of backpacking, really will be a one year adventure.

[Roxy]

I had lunch and a walk in a park with a nun!

[eve]

lol - Roxy, when I returned to Australia, and was unable to go back to Thailand, I went to a buddhist temple in Sydney, and disrobed. So no, you didn't have lunch with a nun!

[cedarblue]

yes veganpixie!

what an interesting story from your life eve!

[Sluggie]

I have hit a stumbling block. I have 4 boxes of books (one of them vegan related but with waaaay too many magazines in there), 2 boxes of DVDs and 3 boxes of CDs and I just can't seem to get rid of them because I've convinced myself that I love them and that they are worth money, though I know I'll only ever use 10% of them again. Can you give me some encouragement to get rid of it all? Then I'll have to sell my car *breathe in, breathe out*.

I know you don't want to buy things, but.... if you don't already have one, the purchase of a video-mp3-player-type-thing would enable you to get rid of the cds and DVDs and still keep the music itself. And the player itself would be small enough to take with you when you go.

[Roxy]

lol - Roxy, when I returned to Australia, and was unable to go back to Thailand, I went to a buddhist temple in Sydney, and disrobed. So no, you didn't have lunch with a nun!

Even more scandalous Lunch with an ex-nun

Seriously though, I didn't know that about you Eve. I knew you lived in Thailand and stuided Buddhism, but I didn't know you were ordained.

You have such an interesting life

[daddysgirl]

I ofcourse am very concerned about animal rights. I too, however, am very much interested in creating a more natural, cleaner (chemical free) environment for my family. We have stopped buying all of the harsh chemical based cleaning and personal products. We are quickly weeding those things out of our lives and have gone almost 100% organic (next step is our mattresses and bed linens which cost a fortune!). We have a child who is asthmatic and are agonizing over and reseraching the meds that he has been prescribed...luckily, he is well right now...not in any danger by any means. It takes commitment and dedication to live a greener life, in the ever so "convenient" world that we live in. I commend anyone who is taking the step to do so. I'm new here by the way...so hello.
Amy

[veganlovelyme]

I live almost 100% organic, cruelty free, natural
Avoid supermarkets (to much packaging and buy into cruelty)
Support health shops (more compassionate, at least the one i go to (the owners are vegetarian and shop assistant is vegan))
I use reusable pads for my period (washable), organic vegan mostly chemical free beauty and body care and hair care products (no Sodium Lauryl Sulphate specially)
I stopped taking my contraceptive pill June 2007 after 10 years of abusing my body.
I do not take medicine, i heal naturally, bear the pain.
I recycle. I cycle. I walk. I practice kung fu
I do not own a car (I am 30 and do not even have a driving licence!!!)
I detest food additives and read labels carefully (E numbers are soooo scary!!!)
I bake my cakes, my cookies and my bread. All wholemeal.
I buy wholemeal/wheat pasta and rice

I will come back in case i forgot something......

Anita

[Busy Bee]

Hello everyone. Yes count me in here. I'm 38 and live in SE England. Me and my husband are both vegans and are trying to live ethically also.

I try and buy organic and succeed about 90% of the time, I've recently stopped buying made up household cleaners and gone back to using things like Bicarb and Soda Crystals, I do our shopping mainly in our local health shop and by box scheme, I use a mooncup instead of tampons, I try and buy second hand as much as possible and am also a bit of an anti-consumer in that I make an effort to not buy things I don't need.

Basically we both want to live a life that doesn't create suffering for any kind of animal, humans included.

[veganlovelyme]

I am also anti consumerism.
I am giving all the time to charity...feels great to live on less.

[Busy Bee]

I am also anti consumerism.
I am giving all the time to charity...feels great to live on less.

It does! I feel such a huge sense of achievement in managing my life this way, and not letting myself be taken in by the prevalent culture. I'm certainly not perfect, sometimes I've bought something before I even realise it, but I'm getting better and every non purchase is a success in itself.

[VeganDaze]

Hi veganpixie, I think that being concerned about the environment and health is wrapped up in veganism - once I started thinking about the importance of my consumer decisions re. animals it snowballed! As Busy Bee said, avoiding human suffering is also important, i.e. don't shop in primark
I am studying at the college of naturopathic medicine now, I'm really interested in nutrition. Cosmetics is a thing I like to buy natural and organic, it all sinks in after all!
I haven't managed to give up wine for a truly healthy diet yet, but it's important to enjoy life too . At least there is organic wine now!!
Mooncup is the best invention ever for sanitary ware.
I've had a setback on the drugs front though - gave up contraceptive pill for months but can't cope with my heavy periods and resulting anaemia. Think raw foood may be the answer - anyone experienced this?

[Busy Bee]

I used to have very heavy very painful periods where I would be in bed for three days and dosed up with ibuprofen and codeine. I stopped eating gluten and WHOOOSH I don't even need to take one painkiller for my periods now. I've not got any experience with raw eating though.

[VeganDaze]

Oh that's interesting, I've never checked whether any kind of intollerance could affect it, thanks

[Healthy]

Raw foods will definitely give you lighter, painless periods

[VeganDaze]

Have you experienced that Healthy?
I was reading up on raw foodism recenly and planned to go for it, mostly cos of the period business, but because I can't afford a decent juicer or other equipment for making more varied food at the mo it hasn't seemed viable..... eating just fruit and salad doesn't fill me with joy!

[Healthy]

Vegan Daze, yes, I did when I was a high raw foodist for three years (from 2003 to 2006) ... I transitioned back to whole cooked foods (and some raw) mainly because it was socially unrealistic and extremely expensive to eat 100 percent raw.

While eating as much whole foods as possible, my periods remain light and pain-free. However, I must say, that as a raw foodist, the blood was absolutely beautiful ... as Shazzie said on her raw website, her blood looked "happy" and I can't help but agree.

If you go for it, I wish you all the best. It is do-able, but it's costly and be prepared to lose a lot of weight. It took me two years to gain 10 pounds back (in a healthy manner).

Zero, on this message board explained why you lose weight as a raw foodist (your body repairs itself going back to an alkaline state) ... Seems people lose a lot at first, then the body rebuilds healthier muscle tissue and you look better than ever. I never got to that point though

[VeganDaze]

Hmm, thanks for the info healthy. I think like you I'll have to stick with including as much raw as poss. for now - temporarily skint and already skinny!!

[Haniska]

Hey vegandaze, check out this site in regards to heavy periods.

http://www.ctds.info/vitamink.html

I try to be very natural in my own home. I don't want poisons in my own house! I clean with watered alcohol with a drop of vanilla oil in it. I use the Diva Cup. I use flushable liners which I reason must be biodegradable as they are septic safe.

[VeganDaze]

That's interesting haniska, i wonder if a vit.K deficiency could be my problem. It's crazy that doctors don't look at any natural and healthy solutions to health problems, i was just put straight on the pill at a very young age to deal with heavy periods! I've learnt at college that you can't necessarily trust conventional doctors to do the best thing, as they only treat symtoms. I'm so interested in holistic medicine now!

I use mooncup which I guess is the same as divacup - I love that I never buy tampons now, it means so much less waste!

[Haniska]

I find it somewhat bizarre that my pms is treated with antidepressants when obviously my hormones are f'd up in some way. Then, I read that depression messes up your hormones so who knows. Whatever works I reckon.

[Mfap]

At the moment I'm struggling to lead a high-raw diet, part of a new year's resolution to follow diet in the Greek sense of regimen. So yes I'm holistically minded.

Starting yoga next week, meditate often. Occaisionally make my own conditioner, help out on a family allotment, want to learn how to make further 'cosmetics' readily. Huge fan of aromatherapy and personally view holistically based medicine as the only real way forwards, regardless of what form the therapy takes place.

[Cup'O'Tea]

I'm going to be studying Natural Nutrition in University and will probably be focusing on becoming a Holistic Nutritionist

Right now I'm just in college, trying to squeeze out all the information I possibly can from my nutrition teacher. I'm sure I'm driving her insane with all the emails I send, haha.

I'll likely be going to the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, or possibly Alive Academy (online).

I'm hoping to switch to a raw diet very soon, and am looking for yoga classes that work into my schedule. My ultimate dream is to live in an eco-home in British Columbia or Northern England. For now I'll just sit here in Ontario and be a happy, spiritually-driven, vegan who wants to save the world.

[VeganDaze]

That's so cool Cup'O'Tea, I'm studying nutrition too! At the college of naturopathic medicine. Well, I'll be doing nutrition next year once I have completed the biomedicine! This bit is hard.