Meatless Monday: Why Do Some Thrive and Others Fail at Vegetarianism?
Since share is in the air today, I’m going to tell you how it is that I came to abandon twenty or so odd years of vegetarianism in favor of a little conscious meat eating. Not exactly standard inspirational fare for Meatless Monday I know, but I’d like to open up the forum to discuss how it is that some people thrive as vegetarians and vegans, while others flat out fail—and not for lack of trying. Because as much as Siobhan and I support eating less meat (which is what MM is all about)—and probably about 99% of carnivores could stand to cut some out—we mostly support everyone finding what is right for their body. Sans dogma!
Now, I’ve definitely heard people say that cutting out meat and dairy has helped their energy levels, their PMS, their digestion, and their skin! And I truly wish that was my story.
But it’s not. See, several months ago—when I was still a mostly-vegetarian-sometimes-vegan-sometimes-fish-eater—I was not feeling good at all. My digestion was a nightmare, which it had been for years. I was tired to the point of having trouble getting up. My mind was dull. I was generally disinterested by most things. And I wasn’t getting my period. It was just awful.
I’m well aware that these are also all symptoms of depression, but I can’t emphasize how much they were manifesting in a physical way as well (mind-body-duh, of course). But it made it very challenging to pull out of this fog. For instance, I would try to do yoga and get extremely dizzy. And I literally felt PMS all the time. Various types of anemia were hypothesized, along with thyroid issues, and B12 deficiencies. Ultimately, my blood work pointed to an excess of a certain hormone (prolactin) and no good explanation for why there was so much of it.
Thanks to several alternative health practitioners, I was able to get back on track (and back to menstruating). But all three of them told me to start integrating some form of red meat into my diet. Now, that’s not the only thing I did—herbs, supplements, and working on healthier boundaries were also in the mix—but it has seemed to help with my energy and most definitely with my digestion. Amazingly, veggie-centric dinners leave me bloated and uncomfy, while a grass-fed hamburger makes my tummy happy. For some reason eating vegetarian during the day is good though, so I often practice a vegan before 6pm routine.
So who here thrives as a veg and who can’t stomach it? Do you think it’s a question of blood type (I’m an O)? Or maybe it’s a dosha thing? As always, we want to hear your stories.
Regardless, I’m learning to accept and maybe even embrace my occasional meat eating. It took a little time to get used to it, but now I’m actually finding it liberating to not be so strict with myself.
Image from old Time Magazine cover
I also eat vegetarian or vegan during the day and a small portion of meat at night. I have similar issues, tired, dizzy, etc if I don’t eat some red meat. I hate red meat, but it really seems to help. I am also O type blood. Supposedly we do well with red meat. Maybe there’s something in the theory. I also gave up caffeine which is a no no for O’s and I feel so much better! It is amazing that the body has its own methods for dealing with fatigue if it isn’t confused by chemicals.
But back to being a veg head who sometimes eats meat: I think that whatever you are comfortable with, whatever is natural and whatever makes you healthy is the way to go.
I’ve tried vegetarianism too many times to count (and veganism a few times as well), and my lack of dedication is rarely what gets me back on the meat wagon. I usually end up eating meat at an acquaintance or in-law’s house to avoid seeming ungrateful or rude. Currently, I eat meat pretty rarely….and I’m fine with that. As far as digestion goes, meat occasionally causes me to poop less frequently (TMI?). It also tends to make my skin go nuts, which is almost an unforgivable sin.
Great post! As a vegetarian surrounded by meat-eaters it’s often hard to get an open dialogue about the pros and cons of vegetarianism. I typically just get the question “how can you NOT eat bacon?”. I have been a vegetarian for 8 1/2 years, I became one Freshman year of High School, and I love it. I honestly don’t miss meat at all but I do have digestion problems, and I feel like my stomach always hurts. I’ve tried incorporating fish, but that just makes it hurt worse. Either way, I think that becoming a vegetarian has taught me a lot about self-discipline and my own body, and I think everyone should listen to their inner foodie and make the choice for themselves!
I eat a diet that I would say is about 95% vegan and I couldn’t feel better about it and have never felt healthier. I love animals and feel horrible eating them and the health benefits of eliminating animal products from your diet are indisputable. Also, the environmental destruction caused by cattle farming and the cruelty to these innocent creatures is something I choose not to support. This is why my diet works so well for me, because I really believe in the reasons I’m doing it, and at the end of the day, the science of a plant-based diet just doesn’t lie.
I also think it’s incredibly important to believe in what you’re doing but not condemn others for their choices. I’m happy to share with people about my diet and the reasons behind it, but I don’t push it on anyone. Kudos to Siobhan, too, because eliminating MOST animal products still gives you the same health benefits, and buying grass-fed beef is a better option than cruelty beef in a styrofoam container. I reserve the 5% of my diet for things like family functions where I don’t expect anyone to cater to me, and for going out to eat where I don’t want to worry if there’s a little bit of animal by-product in something (like an egg in a batch of cookies). I’ve faced a lot of the realities of animal farming through research and if I ever crave meat, all I have to do is think about the sweet little critters and I am fine.
I do know about the blood type thing but I never have a problem with eating vegan. I’ve been vegan for a 1.5 years, vegetarian before that, and I feel great! With blood type O-.
I just find that eating raw food in the evenings isn’t the best for me. Besides that, my digestion is the best it’s ever been.
Mind you I do take a multivitamin, just to make sure I’m getting everything, and I make sure I get my omegas.
I’ve been vegetarian/vegan since I was 12, but started including meat into my diet after moving to South Korea this year (I’m now 26). I honestly thought I’d get really sick and yet….nothing. I actually have more energy now than I did before, which really surprised me.
However, if I ever move back to a veg-friendly place, the meat would be promptly chucked out, simply because I’d have the choice not to eat it.
I’m both Vata and type O blood and a vegetarian. I agree with you that sometimes I feel like I must be doing something wrong because it hasn’t helped me as much as some people. At the same time being veg helped me mentally. When I ate meat I ate so little food in general because of the way that eating meat made me feel emotionally. As a result my iron levels have improved drastically since becoming vegetarian.
For me it’s a met personal thing. I don’t agree that people should continue to be vegetarian if it’s reeking havoc on their system. I think that it’s very responsible to listen to the advice. Only you know what is right for your body :)
I thrive as a full vegan and have for 4 years now. I’m type B blood, though I don’t know much about the blood type diet. I am healthier as a vegan and don’t get sick much – just a mild cold once or twice a year. I have done a lot of research on nutrition in general and how to optimize vegan diets, which I’m sure has made me eat better overall and played into why I’m healthier. I’m extremely active and work as a personal trainer and have no energy or sleep problems. I’m interested to hear about others’ experiences, because I too have seen people who just didn’t thrive on a diet, whether omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, or other, and I wonder why.
Blood Type A+ and I follow a pescetarian diet. I eat fish on occasion, but the mainstay of my diet is fruits, vegetables, plants, legumes, nuts, and grains. I also include eggs and dairy. My body does not digest meat well at all.
Kombucha drinks are a great addition to my diet.
So odd, this is such a similar experience to mine. I have been 90% vegetarian for a long time and have struggled with dizziness, light-headedness and general weakness my whole adult life. I also have extremely sparse periods. I, too, was tested for things such as anemia, but blood tests never unearthed a cause. Seeing a herbalist really helped me; she put me on a regimen of very nutritive and grounding herbs and instructed me that, as an O type, I should really be eating red meat. This is not something that comes naturally to me and I find that too much red meat makes me feel heavy and sluggish. I have managed to find a good balance by eating a largely vegetarian diet with lots of fish and, when my body is craving it, some good quality organic steak. Other things that have helped a lot with the daily shakiness (I am also Vata) have been cutting out caffeine, snacking regularly (so that I am always preempting a blood sugar crash) and trying hard to include some kind of protein in every meal. I think that listening to what your body wants is always the right thing to do.
I love this post. I have gone back and forth like Alexandra has, but there’s a big difference between her digestion and mine. My body actually is happiest when it’s eating a vegetarian diet. Somethings I go into “whatever” mode where I’ll eat, well, whatever for a spell, but for the most part I prefer to eat vegetarian, and my stomach does too. Ive never had issues with raw vegetables, beans, legumes — nada. Which is, obviously, my body’s way of telling me that’s a diet that suits me. At the same time, my acupuncturist advises a little meat in advance of or during the first couple of days of my period, and I’ve done that sometimes.
I was vegetarian for about 10 years. I tried to go vegan but it felt too limiting for me. I feel strongly about treating animals with respect and dignity. However, I started rock climbing and building a lot of muscle, and I felt I needed more protein and energy in my diet. I gradually started eating chicken and eggs, all organic, but no red meat, which I don’t like the taste or texture of. I still eat mainly fruit, veg, and grains for my diet, with chicken and eggs a couple times a week. My eggs are all from my pet chickens:) They eat organic food and free range in my yard, so it feels really healthy and natural. I try to tune into my body and give it what it needs, without judging.
I’m not a vegetarian, but my diet does consist of a lot of fruits and vegetables. I love to cook, so most of what I prepare is from scratch, including my own bread, (which contains the wheat-germ). I was advised long ago that I require red meat occasionally, which is fine with me. I prefer grass-fed, which can be a bit “gamey” for some people. To me it is like “oh, so this is what its supposed to taste like, aha!” We are fortunate enough to have fish mongers selling their freshly caught fish about once a month in the harbor.
I recall in one of Michael Pollan’s books that he claimed that eating beans and rice together would help to eliminate digestive problems. I don’t know if this works, but I supposed it is worth a try.
I drink ginger tea to help with this. AND . . . it was recommended here on NMDL as a prescriptive measure to aid digestion for a more sound sleep. It has also helped to wean me (just a little) off of coffee.
Thanks for bringing up this topic! I’ve loved reading everyone’s perspective on this. It’s something I’ve wondered about many times, both personally and professionally (I’m a holistic health counselor). Personally: I’ve been a vegetarian for 28 years with occasional attempts at veganism. I’ve also tried to add fish into my diet–or even chicken–at times, because I wondered the same thing: would I feel better with animal protein, other than cheese, in my diet? I’m blood type O- and so the recommendation is that I eat red meat. But I can’t. I just hate eating it, same with fish, same with chicken. So, tho I still wonder at times if I’d feel stronger/more vital with animal protein in my diet, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do it.
Professionally, I’ve seen clients thrive by adding chicken (especially) or fish into their diet after being vegetarian; but mainly I’ve seen people feel better by making slow, steady plant-focused changes to their diets. In other words, they don’t become vegetarian, but by adding more greens and root veggies into their overall way of eating they feel much better.
Back on a personal note, I developed IBS 5 years ago, and find that the fiber-rich plant-grain-bean diet I’ve always followed as a vegetarian doesn’t work for me as well now (sigh). Among other changes (such as focusing on soluble fiber vs insoluble fiber foods), I’m eliminating dairy for the time being. We’ll see what happens! I guess it’s cool that we’re each our own laboratory for discovery…
All right, now all of you have me curious . . . what is recommended for B- blood type? Not that I plan on any drastic life changes, but not knowing is driving me crazy.
I tried to be vegetarian for a little while, when I found out it would be better for me to become gluten free, and felt the effects on my body almost instantly.
As I excercise for at least 2 hours 5 days a week all these carbs (not all, I know) were suddenly gone so my body was craving extra protein and fat for energy….the most logical way to get that is to eat a bit of meat, but I resisted. I was almost constantly eating everything in sight and never satisfied! Stuffing my face with cheese, greek yoghurt, nuts, rich dips etc and nothing satisfied me untill I had a bowl of gluten free pasta with Bologanaise sauce. A hah! I felt normal again :)
It was interesting to read your post and all the comments it generated. I was a vegetarian for about 6 years, my body never really liked it and I struggled with multiple digestive issues and allergies. I stopped quite a few years back and ever since have been doing much better, until about a year ago I started eating more beans and whole grains for their health benefits which again totally messed me up! I am definitely one of those that does not do well on a vegetarian diet even though I am type A+. Right now, on the recommendation of my doctor (who practices integrative medicine), I have been eating a little protein at every meal (and by protein I mean complete protein, not beans) which means I eat even more meat than before, and a lot of my prior digestion issues have improved considerably. Having said that, my diet does not include any processed foods and includes a LOT of veggies (it is almost a paleo-style diet at this point). This has convinced me that many of us have just not evolved to be able to survive well on a pure plant diet….
I was vegetarian for 5 years, and I can’t say I ever felt any better. I may even have felt more run down. I don’t love meat. It grosses me out. But, I have been eating larger amounts of animal protein for the last month & my hypoglycemia has disappeared. We have been eating about 90% home-cooked whole foods this month, so I’m still eating lots of fruit and veggies. My blood type is A-, so I am the type who “should” thrive on a vegetarian diet.
I was vegetarian for 9 years, and didn’t do very well. But, I didn’t know at the time that I really should have been gluten free. Plus, I wasn’t eating particularly healthily even though it was veg. When I got pregnant, I started craving meat. I had not missed meat a day of the 9-year veg thing, but my baby wanted meat. So I started eating meat. After I had my kid I stayed on meat, which I could eat lots of, and I think at the time it was fine for me. I still hadn’t figured out gluten free though, and my digestive system was a mess. When my hormones went nuts with perimenopause all my digestive issues became worse. I figured out to go with sprouted grains, and eventually gluten free completely. What an improvement in my digestion! After a case of food poisoning I accidentally went vegan and raw because I couldn’t imagine eating anything other than fresh fruits and vegetables. I discovered eating raw was a “thing” and I’ve been doing that (mostly) ever since. If I stick to vegan/raw/gluten free my digestive system is lovely, skin is really good, overall my health problems are minor – I rarely get sick, and before I got colds, etc., frequently. I have experimented with going back to a little sustainably raised meat, but I notice that if I eat animal protein my hay fever type allergies act up. Eating vegan means I very rarely need any allergy medication, whereas before I needed allergy meds pretty much every day of the year. My current diet also eliminates some autoimmune issues for me, like psoriasis (completely gone). It seems pretty clear that my body defenses work better without eating animals. Your mileage may vary! I do seem to need iron supplements though, or my periods are overly frequent and miserable.
I think each of us has different needs, which can change with time or other circumstance, and we should listen to what our bodies tell us. As biology chick, I have to say I think the blood type diet stuff is a big load of BS (I’m O+). But, it can’t hurt to experiment with different diets and see what works for you personally. As I’m sure I’ve said here before, plant based with little processed food and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables (some raw) is good for pretty much everyone. Meat/dairy can be added if needed or desired. The details for what works beyond that are very individual.
I’ve had a similar experience when it comes to being vegetarian: my body gets sluggish and I get irritable. Mind you, I don’t eat meat very often. I would say maybe twice a week? But that is enough to make a big difference in the way I feel. I went to see my acupuncturist because I just could not get going no matter what I tried and she suggested I try eating some red meat. I felt better very soon after that. If I could be a vegetarian/vegan I WOULD DO IT! I think all of the reasons are sound which I why I very rarely eat meat now (plus I hate cooking it and touching it!). I try to space it out and around periods. I would love to hear more from others who’ve had similar experiences.
I have struggled with the vegetarian way for many years. Been on and off. Now I struggle with the vegan lifestyle. Even though when someone BBQ’s, it smells wonderful, the thought of eating an animal is so disgusting to me. I think if I was more prepared, I would eat better. Thank you for your post. Sometimes I feel guilty because I’m not all or nothing.
I’m a vegetarian who eats mostly vegan, but forces herself to eat salmon a couple times a month. I refuse to say “pescatarian,” as it is just too snobby. I think I am thriving, but I don’t know: I have been a strict vegetarian for 12 years, and just started eating salmon earlier this year because all I do is read about how healthy it is for you. So I can’t remember if I’ve ever felt differently than I do now. I have an anxiety disorder that comes with a bit of depression, and my skin is not the clearest–but not the worst either. So who knows?
I like this quote I will now botch from Isa at Post Punk Kitchen: Eat vegan and your tastebuds will soon follow your morals.
@Dana, your stomach should not be hurting all of the time! If you’re uncomfortable, I think it would be worth a visit to an allergist, naturopath, etc to determine what the cause of your indigestion is. I’m not preaching here nor do I mean to scold you, I just feel for people with constant stomach issues, as I used to be one of them. Good luck and feel better!
@Elizabeth, thank you for the concern! I asked my mom if she remembers if I’ve always had stomach problems, and she said that I did ever since I was a baby :(…I should probably still talk to someone but at least we know it’s not the veggies!
I love that this topic has been brought up! About 2 years ago, I ate vegetarian for about a year and a half. It taught me to eat healthier and be more creative with food, and even helped me lose some weight. I experimented with veganism here and there during that time, but I was always hungry! Then, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 24. I was already eating healthy, but I knew I needed to change my diet a little more. I started carb counting and slowly brought meat back into my diet. Honestly, meat is the only thing that really keeps me full. I only eat it a couple times a week, but I notice a significant difference in how full I feel and how long I stay full when I eat a bit of meat. Since being diagnosed, and changing my diet, I’ve lost more weight and kept it off, which I attribute to carb counting (and completely eliminating sugar and refined carbs), not adding meat back in, although meat does not have any carbs and therefore gives me more low-carb meal options. I do not have any digestive issues on or off meat. I do notice stomach discomfort when I eat sugar and junk food, which does not happen often, but I can always tell it’s effect on my body! My stomach feels upset, I get constipated and tired. Lately, I have been trying to lessen the amount of dairy, but not meat, that I eat. I eat Greek (cow’s milk) yogurt with active cultures and have mainly switched to goat cheese, but haven’t had cow’s milk in a long time. I eat lots of veggies, eggs, whole grains and fruit and only use lower glycemic sweeteners like maple syrup and honey. BUT…The problem I am having is with my skin!!!! I eat a healthy diet, exercise pretty regularly, and use gentle, nontoxic skincare products (sprout wellness, which actually agrees with my allergy prone skin and doesn’t add to the breakouts), but just cannot get rid of breakouts! Like I said, no digestive issues I am aware of unless I eat sugar, refined carbs or junk food which is few and far between. HELP!!!!
P.S. I visited a holistic nutritionist about a year ago, just to get some info on the profession, and at the time I was eating a vegetarian diet and he told me that he was vegetarian for 5 years until he went to nutrition school. Interesting! BTW I am blood type O.
I’ve been mostly vegan for two years now. I find it exhausting to follow it super strictly, and sometimes it’s just downright inconvenient. I occasionally eat sushi (mmmm) or look the other way if there is dairy baked into a cookie, but for the most part I avoid animal products altogether. I personally feel amazing on this diet. I’ve been more energetic, less congested, and my digestive system loves it. One of the main reasons I’ve stuck with it is that I’ve been all around healthier since I cut out animals, and it’s forced me to be more creative with my recipes. I’m much more aware of what nutrients I’m getting. I’m also an O blood type.
I think the most important thing is to listen to your body. I hate the idea of labels and conforming to a specific diet. I’ve known vegetarians who have craved meat but since they’re \vegetarian\ they feel they can’t ever eat it, like they’re falling off the wagon. Your body knows what you need, so just listen to it.
@Liz, a couple thoughts–and of course, I’m only speculating!
1. Dairy?
2. Gluten?
3. Hormonal imbalance
I believe that the first two can be tested with an elimination diet, and the third is just a little ol’ blood test. Good luck!
@ Elizabeth, thanks for the thoughts!
Blood tests have shown that my hormone levels are normal. Dairy and gluten don’t upset my stomach, but I suppose either one could be the case. I have a tendency toward ear infections, though. I eat whole grains, as opposed to a gluten-centric diet, and plain yogurt with live active cultures, but I don’t eat much cheese and I don’t drink milk. I think it’s just time to see a holistic nutritionist.
It all started two years ago.I tried out veggieburgers and falafel and boutht them cheep in sweden when we traveled for some cheep food.(live in norway and vegetarian food is really exspensive). I flexed but i didnt know how to be a veggie.My mind wasnt ready for it.One day i read a scentence ” could you have killed the animal by your self” and that was it for me.Been a veggie now for 9 months and i am living vegan but eat like cheese when going to restaurants. The changes in my body took about a month and i finally could go to the toilet every day.Before i went like once a week and thats not good for the body.Now i can go up to tree times a day.Im trilled about something that small. Before going veg i lost 10 kilos and now i can much more chocolate than before. I read about my bloodtype a year back and it said: your bloodtype is only 1000 years old. so i dont need so much protein like type O. My type is AB resus minus and only 5% in Norway has that. The only problem i ever had with being a veggie is with other people like my mother and mother in law.They make it so difficult than it really is. Being a veggie isnt for everyone but you have to set your mind into it too.It is not a diet but a lifestyle. My karma is so much better to.No problemos unless i am bad;)
Hi there!
Great post… I personally feel that naturally raised, preferably local, organic meat and animal products can be extremely nutritious and helpful to a person’s diet in small amounts, and often addresses the problems the vegetarians and particularly vegans face…
I never truly buy the whole black and white thing. Plants = good, all meat = bad. Many people lump factory farmed, jacked up meat with natural humanely raised meat. And many also seem to assume that if you are a person who advocates eating meat that that means you automatically advocate eating MOUNDS of it.
The reason I say this is because I have a video on my website (about getting rid of acne holistically) called “Why Some People Develop Acne When They Go Vegan”. Some people do! Some do not thrive on this diet! Some really do need what healthy animal products have to offer in order to thrive – plus my other point is that when people give up meat, many replace that with heaps of soy and gluten grains, which can wreak havoc on your digestion, hormones, and skin. Unfortunately I get attacked by vegans a lot because they stumble upon it and assume I am advocating eating mounds of factory fed meat or something. I’m merely trying to help people to understand what is going on if they happen to be eating a vegan diet and still have acne, or actually develop it.
The moral of the story: Eat LOTS of veggies and listen to your body!
Thanks for the post Alexandra :)
Thank you so much for sharing this! I just taught a tele-class on how to eat a plant-based diet and one of the major lessons I kept coming back to was — no matter what — to eat more plants because everyone is different and different ways of eating suit everyone differently and at different points in their lives. I am a 20-year “vegetarian” but don’t like labels because sometimes I eat a vegan diet and sometimes I eat fish. Listening to your body is key.
To debunk the blood type O- thing, it must be something else. I’m O-, Pitta-Kapha and about 95% pescetarian and I lean vegan (all these terms crack me up!!!) Since cutting out anything with a neck (maybe will have bacon 4-5 times a year and plan on eating turkey next week), being mindful of my sugar, gluten, (never really drank caffeine), and dairy intake, I just function and feel better and have more clarity. I’m not sluggish, its easier for me to maintain my weight (always struggled with that in the past) and my skin loves me. I really try to eat organic when possible and free-range, hormone free when the bacon calls to me. Not much of a struggle, but it was a long journey to get here naturally, on my own terms, without feeling deprived.
Hey there!
I’m a vegetarian for years now, with absolutely no desire to turn back to eating meat. Yet, I totally understand where you came from. “Giving meat up” was so easy for me, and it felt right. People often ask me “How do you do it?” and it boggles my mind, because I don’t even think of meat. It’s not like it’s a temptation that I have to turn away from. It doesn’t even occur to me to eat it. If vegetarianism doesn’t feel right in your body, then it doesn’t make sense. As you’re a yogi however, the issue that comes up to consider is karma and practicing ahimsa. I know deep practitioners who eat fish, etc, and they make it work. I would just suggest that you don’t gloss over the fact that you’re eating meat… even though you feel better when you’re doing it, remember it’s still killing, and work your karma in other ways to make up for it.
Good luck! and glad you’re feeling well!
This may be helpful to know – If you want to be a healthy vegan, you MUST eliminate sugar. Because it’s a simple carb, it’s balanced when eaten with meat, which is all protein and fat with no carbs. If you do not eat meat, there is no “hole” in your diet that needs to be balanced, so eating sugar will make you off-balance. So if you order the veggies and tofu, and your friend gets the steak, and you both go for cupcakes afterwards, guess who’s going to feel lousier? Life is unfair, I know.
I am vegan, with a type O+ blood, the one supposedly good with meat and bad with milk. I didn’t really feel healthier or worse without meat, but I only ate it as a child so I really don’t remember. Giving up milk and cheese felt GREAT. Now, I feel the best (regular BMs, the most lightest and painless periods imaginable, no acne, no restless mind keeping me up at night) eating a lot of veggies, one serving of grain a day, one serving of bean, some fruit, a handful of nuts. No sugar, no cereal, no packaged foods, well cooked (unless it’s summer). (I’m certainly not perfect, I’m human and travel and go out, I don’t eat exactly right all the time, but knowing what I can return to too get back to center keeps me on track). Also, I am a kapha if that is any interest to you.
Also there are many different types of vegetarian/vegan diets. Some things to consider if you aren’t feeling your best: eating too many packaged foods, too much take out, too much soy, too much sugar, not enough fat, not enough protein, not enough beans, too much/not enough grains, too much fruit, too much alcohol, too much/not enough raw food, too much/not enough cooked food, too much tropical food, too much fruit juices, not enough leafy greens, not enough sea vegetables…
EVERY ONE is different and requires a different diet. While I do truly believe that everyone can benefit by eating less meat, you should eat how you want, not how you think you are supposed to. Most importantly, listen to your body and intuition.
Alexandra!
Thank you so much for sharing your own personal experience and for emphasizing how no one diet is right for everyone! I was also vegetarian and vegan for years and ended up doing a lot of damage to my health and the symptoms you describe sound so familiar! I am a holistic nutrition coach and see people in my practice all the time who go through the same thing. While I also see people thriving and feeling great on a vegan/vegetarian diet, others just don’t, despite all their efforts to include enough plant fats, iron and proteins. And Alexandra, just for the record, I’m a Pitta type with blood type B. Maybe it’s easier for the A’s out there?
One of the obstacles for many vegetarians to switch back to a meat eating lifestyle is their ethical conviction, which I truly respect and empathize with! The way we treat animals in the industrial food industry is beyond frightening and not a practice anyone should support, omnivore or vegan!
Here are my two cents on choosing the best meat. I hope this can be helpful for some of you:
http://healthyjourney.tumblr.com/post/11275005307/meat
Thanks again for your honesty Alexandra! There’s enough people out there blindly advocating for a vegan diet for the planet – we need this diversity, understanding and respect for each others choices. Just because you’re vegan, you’re not necessarily a superior being! We all need to make conscious choices based on our own morals, experiences and health.
In good health!
Katrine van Wyk
Thanks Katrine—and everyone—for your insights and stories. I love our blog! And yes, according the blood type diet type Bs do need meat. Type As and I think ABs are the ones who thrive as vegetarian/vegans (btw I’ve never read this book, just looking at their site:)