First some definitions. Vegetarians eat NO meat, this includes no chicken and no fish, but they can (and usually do) eat dairy products; e.g. eggs and milk products.
Vegans eat no animal products at all. No meat, dairy or fish. Only plant based foods. Jokingly stated as, "No food with a mother or a face."
I began my vegetarian journey after seeing my mother in the intensive care of the cardiac unit of the hospital. She had just undergone a quadruple heart bypass surgery, and was "in recovery". I saw how she was out of it due to the medications for pain, and the after affects of the surgery. I silently vowed that I would not wind up on a similar table suffering through that kind of surgery. I have since learned that with those kinds of surgeries, that brain damage due to low blood flow to the brain almost always occurs. My mother suffered a drug-induced psychosis also, that caused her to feel extremely paranoid and trapped.
My "quest" began.
I am a young man, just 40, but at the time of my mother's surgery was 35, and about 35 pounds heaver than I wanted to be. I was serving in the Air Force, and the culture of the Air Force is accepting of older NCO's (Non-Commissioned Officers) having a "bigger gut", and heavier frame. So I was always on the edge of failing my weigh-ins, and had difficulty passing my physical fitness tests. I took up cycling to improve my health and lost some of the weight, but didn't seem to lose very much weight, even though I got into much better physical shape.
So when I saw my mother in ICU, I knew I had to learn how to NOT wind up where she was. I turned to the Internet. I read everything I could find on heart disease, nutrition and how to reduce my chances of getting heart disease. I found information that vegetarian diets were better for preventing heart disease, so I immediately began paring down my meat consumption. I was a huge meat eater, having been raised thinking that I needed as much protein as I could get. I had always like vegetables, just not as main dishes. After about 2 months I reduced down to just "meat flavored meals." I commented on this to one of my friends, who said, "Why not just go vegetarian?" So I did.
After about 3 weeks of eating vegetarian meals I cooked myself, from recipes found on various vegetarian websites I was not feeling that great. I had made a mistake that some beginning vegetarians make, I substituted dairy products for meat. I was still experiencing gastronomical distress, heartburn, cycles of diarrhea and constipation, and nasal congestion however. So after reading Sabrina Nelson's article on her change to a vegan diet, I decided to give up the dairy and eggs. That was the key. It was also difficult at first, because I was still worried about the "protein myth". After a few short days of vegan meals, my bowels settled down to regularity, my heartburn went away, and my nasal congestion completely disappeared. No more antacids for me! I never lost strength, only the tired feeling I used to have after meals.
I felt HEALTHY! I felt amazingly well. I had even more energy to ride my bike, I was able to keep up with the "fast" riders on my club rides, and best of all, was the regular sleep! I even improved my mandatory Air Force run times!
So on I went with my vegan diet/strict vegetarian eating until I found Dr. Walford's website. He was also featured on Scientific American Frontiers with Alan Alda. Dr. Walford was one of the scientists who was a part of the Biosphere 2 crew and witnessed how high nutrient, low calorie food affects humans. Dr. Walford commented that caloric restriction extends the health of mice and other mammals. Also that healthy low calorie, high nutrient food was key to a human's good health. So I slowed down my use of oil and refined sugars. I cut out drinking soda, and switched to water.
My weight simply evaporated. I ate whatever I wanted, that was nutrient rich and low in fat. My energy remained the same, HIGH! I tried to reduce my calories to about 60% of what I had been eating, and my energy levels went through the roof. I often hear people comment that they wish they had the energy that their 3, 4 or 5 year-olds have. I have that energy, and I'm willing to tell them how they can get it too!
Later on in my readings on the Internet, I found Dr. McDougall's website, which is dedicated to treating heart disease (and other nutrition associated ailments) through diet. He backed up all of the things I had figured out on my own with scientific evidence, and evidence from his own patients. Dr. McDougall also suggests that auto-immune diseases such as Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis can be cured with a plant-based, whole foods diet that is low in fat. Also all of the "over nutrition" diseases that so many westerners suffer from because of our rich diets. I have noticed that my joints no longer hurt (I've been quite active and had broken some bones that always hurt after they healed, until I went vegan.) My elbow still gives me trouble when I use it too much, or the weather is going to change, but the constant pain has gone.
Now, I'm not perfect, I occasionally have a meal that has high amounts of oil in it, but usually don't feel well after them. I go back to eating my grains and vegetables and balance returns. It is amazing how well the body heals when you supply it with the nutrition it needs to thrive. I don't consider these meals setbacks, but temporary detours on my road to good health. I remind myself that my goal is to be healthy and able during my latter years, and hopefully I have lots more of those to look forward to. Quality of life is very important to me. And being a vegan, eating a variety of whole, plant-based foods has made feel the best since I was in high school.
I've talked to many people who don't believe that just following a vegan diet can "cure" so many of the medical conditions Dr. McDougall claims. I can't say that my diet will make everyone feel better, but I surely can recommend that they try it and see. Is 12 days too long to see if something will make you feel better? So many people have the initial reaction of "Oh, I could never give up meat and dairy!" or "I couldn't live without cheese!" I have a moment of sadness for them at that point, because I realize that they are dooming themselves to continued problems and deteriorating health for the rest of their lives! And it doesn't have to be that way. I try to simply smile and accept their choice, as I give them the information that they aren't ready to hear yet. What helps me accept their choices, is the hope that maybe they did hear me a little bit, and when they are tired of suffering, tired of being overweight, tired of being tired, they will give this lifestyle a try, and experience good health for themselves.
Quite a few people, friends and even some members of my own family are skeptical of this lifestyle choice. They often are either combative about it, or consider me arrogant for trying to let them know how much good this change has done for me. So I try to only talk to them about it if I'm asked. I'm happy to talk about it with people, but don't want to appear forceful in my enthusiasm for this way of life. It is so very difficult to remain silent when I see so many people suffering, and I might be able to help them help themselves by giving them this knowledge.
Stats:
My starting cholesterol was around 199 when I was 35. At my last physical two years ago it was under 130. I've cut most fat and oil out of my diet, and have never felt better, stronger, or healthier!
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