Am I sick from being vegan for 13 years? Should I stop?

Question

I have been vegan for 13 years and my husband for 10. A few years ago I started to feel my health deteriorating. I didn't want to change my diet and so I tried sport, supplements, vegan protein shakes. But I've been feeling worse
At the beginning of this year I had my vitamin B12 levels very low, as well as vitamin D.

My symptoms are:

-fatigue:I have felt constantly tired for years, some days worse than others. I feel like my body isn't keeping up with my mind.. I used to go walking/running with my sister (a lot older than me) but I gave up because I couldn't keep up with her. I went to a gym for a year and had to give up because I couldn't gain muscle and I felt ashamed

-muscle pain:I almost constantly feel pain in my body, especially my shoulders, arms, back, thighs

-very strong menstrual pains:each month they get stronger and bring me to tears

- mental confusion and lack of memory:I feel like I have the brain of someone 30 years older than me. I repeat conversations, I forget what I just said, I don't memorize anything people say or read. I'm scared of irreversible neurological damage;

- tremors and tingling in the hands, legs and feet. It happens almost every day

- bone weakness:in the last 1/2 months I feel like I'm one step away from breaking a foot or leg. My bones feel fragile and without stability

- premature aging:I'm not even 30 years old yet and I'm getting a lot of wrinkles, my hair is brittle and thin and my nails are always breaking and have vertical scratches. I'm losing a lot of hair. I have pale, dry skin and I've had deep dark circles for years

- poor digestion:my food often comes out intact in the stool, as do food supplement tablets.

- swollen belly:I look pregnant

- diarrhea, anxiety

My husband has also very unpleasant symptoms. I am considering stop being vegan. I want to know if anyone here feels or felt the same way. What should I do? Already asked my doctor for another blood test. Thank you

D_Bone_Steak · Accepted Answer

Vegan... you'll know who they are because they'll tell you about it.

Anecdotally speaking... they tend to have anger-like emotional issues.

Here is how I see it.. it works at first, simply because that probably starts eating better. More likely to stop eating pop tarts and cinnamon toast crunch all day even though it's vegan (I think). They stop eating junk. Over time though...

The body needs protein. We are predators... we need it. The only reason we evolved big brains is for meat and because of meat. You can survive how long on 1lbs of vegetables and how long on 1lbs of meat? ... If you answer that question... it's obvious which is better for you. Plant-eating animals are pussies... they grow their eyes out the side of their head because they're always fucking scared of everything and the get hunted. To grow new tissue protein is vital. Sure you can get some shit from mixing peanut butter and rice... but there is a lot of shit missing there. We don't have the gorilla enzymes that literally turn plant matter into protein. Also, keep in mind they may be buff, but they got that gut though right? Beer drinkers get that gut too... and the shitting and gut problems.

Don't get me wrong... solid meat eaters have their problems too. #1 is that they usually end up eating nothing but muscle meat. You don't get shit like vitamin C from that. You can from organ meat... but seriously try finding that in the average grocery store. When is the last time you ate a heart or a liver... I look for it and it's hard to find.

The natural way it was... us men would go out and kill an animal. We'd gut the fucker and eat all the good stuff and bring back muscle meat. The women would gather and they basically supplemented with plants and then us dudes would eat that also just to top ourselves off. We evolved like that for a long ass time... it did something to us. I mean it's probably why I can pick most women up and throw them out a window with one arm and the average woman can hard fist punch me and I'm just going to wonder if she's hounding me for sex.

It just is what it is... you need that real protein. At least some.

Am I sick from being vegan for 13 years? Should I stop?

Leapfrog00 · Accepted Answer

You may not be getting enough nutrients. I'm a diabetic and I do know that vegan food is healthy, however a lot of times it doesn't contain all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. It's important that your body gets enough protein, calcium, vitamin c, potassium, and iron, along with a lot of other vitamins.

The potato may even be caused by an iron deficiency because lack of iron will do that, but then again, it could be anything. It may be best if you see a doctor. I would check to see if your doctor can send you to a nutritionist because they can help you out tremendously with helping you eat what your body needs. When I got diagnosed with diabetes, my endocrinologist sent me to one, and it did wonders. I would be very careful with vegan food because not all the nutrients may be there that your body needs. If you talk to a doctor, they can give you advice and tell you what's best for you but I would also check in to see a nutritionist as well and ask them because they might be able to find the root of the problem as well. I hope this helped!

Screenwriter · Accepted Answer

These are a host of odd symptoms that I can't associate with not eating meat. If you balance your protein intake, which can be done without eating meat, you should be fine. Vitamin D is about getting 15 to 20 minutes of sunlight per day. Fish oil has vitamin D in it, if you live in area where sunlight is limited in the far north during winter. But if you're a complete vegan, you don't eat fish, do you.

I'd say get to a nutritionist, then to your general practitioner to relate your daily diet to her or him and give the doctor your symptoms. Being a vegan is difficult if you don't eat a balanced diet with proper protein. And losing hair, being fatigued. sounds serious.

How long have you had these symptoms? You've been vegan for 13 years and this has suddenly happened? Maybe it has nothing to do with what you're eating. Get professional help.

PBandJ_Nerd · Accepted Answer

It's always best to go to a doctor, especially if you're on a vegan diet for any health conditions. While I was never a vegan, I was a pescetarian but then pollo-pescetarian and now omnivore. I changed my diet the first time because I wasn't feeling very good, so I decided adding in poultry would be better for me. Second time I had to due to being in need of more proteins, fats, and iron to be healthy again. But if you do choose to go back to eating dairy, eggs, fish, poultry, meats, etc. then I would be very careful adding those foods back in your diet. Some people who've been on those diets for a long time tend to lose the enzymes needed to digest them.

KingOfMe1 · Answer

I personally  take B12 and Vitamin D and  Omega 3s . Other things sometimes too.  Ask a Vegan. Apple1996 is one if I remember correctly. I ate like a vegan for years and nothing bad ever happen to me. I still don't eat meat. I don't drink cows milk either.  My guess is you are doing something wrong or you are trolling. I've heard of one person that sounded like this and she wasn't getting any omega 3s, b12, vitamin d etc. She didn't believe in supplements. Not implying that's the only way to get them but it sounded like she didn't even know she was suppose to be getting them.  Most people are low in Vitamin D.  Especially black people. Meat eaters, many of the times, don't even know what they are eating. Vegans put way more research and care into their diet if I had to guess.   My personal recommendation would be to stop putting restrictions on your diet and go seek help from a doctor and someone who has been vegan for a long time. Go talk to someone 1 on 1.

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

Stick with your diet. If your diet would be the problem, why not experience these problems a long time ago.

I would wait for the blood test, and maybe some other tests. There are many other possible causes for symptoms like these.

And drastically changing your diet would only cause more problems, as you body would need to adopt to processing these non vegan foods.

I noticed it when i went veggitarian, i can't process milk no more, whenever i drink a coffee with cows milk at work (which is just a small amount of milk) i rapidly have to go to the toilet.

DubiousIntentions · Answer

The Lord made wild animals so we can have meat and hides for clothing. In the Old Testament there were rules for what animals you could eat - either clean or unclean. In the New Testament, Jesus swept away these rules and “declared all foods clean” (Mark 7:18-19): “There is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.” If God intended men to eat meat, maybe that is what is causing a vegan's digestive problems? I'm not saying an all meat diet, but surely a good steak would do no harm as long as it is in moderation.

Levin · Answer

I mean, if you'd had such severe symptoms I would have presumed you would have gone back to at least some kind of pescatarian type diet already. I value a plant based diet but my constitution is such that I know I need at least some animal products. I have a little bit of fish, cheese and eggs every now and then, but don't make them the basis of my diet. You need at least a bit more of those blubbery type foods in winter.

What are you eating exactly? I would suggest you're eating a lot of some kind of processed garbage?

Wonderingguyy · Answer

You’re body is literally deteriorating!! Listen to what it wants and eat some actual food! Being vegan is actually very dangerous. I know all vegans find supplements and come up with food substitutes for iron and different nutrients, but it’s not as good as having a well-balanced omnivorous diet. They always wind up being deficient in something. Think about it, humans have  always  been omnivorous, that’s how we evolved. We are meant to eat meat  and  plants. Don’t deprive yourself.

Mamaliv · Answer

Why did you choose to be vegan? I believe vegans can find the right supplements to cover what their diet may be lacking and it definitely sounds like you body is lacking something! I am not a vegan so of course I could say yes, you should eat meat and dairy. But it’s a lifestyle choice and it’s gotta be a hard decision to change after following for so long. Definitely talk to your dr, get your lab results and maybe read some vegan nutrition books!

FunkyMonkee · Answer

I don't see what the point of it is, you need the various things that are in meat! Most vegans and vegetarians that I've ever seen look frail and WELL beyond their years!! Grey hair, loads of wrinkles, raspy voice, a good butterfly fart would knock them right over!! And those are just the 40 year olds!!

DarkWinterNights · Answer

This is the type of stuff I always hear from Vegans before they quit. It sounds like you’re very malnourished. You need a balanced diet. Even Keto which I’m a huge believer in is only good for a period of time before you need to reintroduce some grains and carbs. Definitely go to the doctor and get some tests done, but I would seriously consider reintroducing your body to some meat products but take it slow. Start with things like milk, eggs and chicken.

DextroShade · Answer

Humans are omnivores and aren't meant to be vegan, as you are finding out the hard way. Here's what you need to do: go to a restaurant and order a juicy delicious steak 🥩 or burger 🍔. If you don't feel like going out to eat buy some bacon 🥓 at the grocery store and fry it up in a skillet or in the oven on a parchment lined baking sheet if you are feeling fancy. If you don't want red meat then go out for sushi 🍥. Damn, now I'm hungry.

Apple1996 · Answer

It might be a different issue since you were fine before while being vegan then these issues randomly popped up. Change your diet if you want but definitely look into if anything else might be wrong

artgorgeous · Answer

Yes, nou need to stop being vegan. You described pretty much all symptoms vegans have. Before doing that, go to a doctor and consult how to make this transition process in a proper way.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

You already gave yourself the answer to your question. Start eating organic dairy products and good-quality fish.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

A lot of premade packaged vegetarian and vegan food is simply horrible for you. High in salt and saturated fats. Not sure if that's what you're eating, but take a look at labels if you are.

exitseven · Answer

Go out and get yourself a good hamburger. Go to a decent restaurant and not a fast food place. Tomorrow morning have scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. See if you start to feel better

LiamJHayden · Answer

A vegan diet can be very healthy  with proper planning , but not for every person. There are people who, for proper health, must eat meat.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

Dairy will help your brain - try it for 2 months and see if it works

BigDog1989 · Answer

I have a "friend", if you want to call her.. that, was vegan for a long time, but eventually went back to eating meat. It's a fad. It wears off

Pohjolan · Answer

Oysters have practically no brains and have plant level awareness. You're welcome.

Redstang88 · Answer

Well I’d definitely check with a doctor but sounds like malnutrition

Anonymous · Answer

Girl you need a steak immediately! I think you should try for at least a month introducing meat (slowly) and see how it works for you.

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