Why I chose to stop being vegan
Embarking on a vegan lifestyle was a journey that started as a quest, firstly for personal health followed by a deeper connection with animal welfare. I embraced veganism, believing it would be a transformative path to enhance my physical and emotional well-being, especially as I was still navigating the challenges of adrenal fatigue.
With a determined mindset, I delved into veganism headfirst. I stocked my shelves with vegan literature and recipe books and my fridge with plant-based foods. For three years, I passionately advocated this lifestyle, attempting to share my newfound enlightenment with my husband and friends, convinced I had found a healthier way of life. However, despite my commitment, I noticed increasing feelings of bloating and a decrease in energy. This was puzzling – my diet was rich in unprocessed, plant-based foods, with minimal reliance on 'fake' meats, which I avoided due to their unnatural ingredient lists.
Being gluten intolerant added another layer of complexity, as many vegan options contained gluten or wheat. My diet consisted of fruit smoothies, salads, vegetables, grains, and beans, with minimal processed foods – a seemingly perfect health recipe.
Yet, the vegan community often had a one-size-fits-all response to those who abandoned the diet: "They weren’t doing it right." But my experience began to challenge this narrative. After two and a half years, a routine check-up revealed alarmingly low iron levels, the lowest I had experienced, even before my gluten intolerance diagnosis (you can read about that journey here). Despite taking iron supplements, my health was not improving, leading my doctor to recommend an iron infusion.
I saw this as a sign from the universe, prompting me to reconsider my dietary choices. Over the next six months later, I began to intuitively include fish in my diet and noticed a significant improvement in my mental well-being.
The decisive moment came when I announced to my husband, who had been a supportive omnivore throughout my vegan journey, that I was ready to reintroduce meat into my diet. His surprise mirrored my own at the speed of my transition – a complete reversal from veganism, practically overnight. I started incorporating eggs, dairy and meat into all of my meals including liver supplements such as these Ancestral Nutrition.
Since shifting from a vegan/plant-based diet to incorporating more animal-based foods, I've experienced a remarkable enhancement in my overall well-being. This includes noticeable improvements in my physical health, like better sleep quality, as well as positive changes in my mental and emotional state.
This journey taught me the importance of listening to my body and understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and well-being.
Dee xx
