Veg*n Gripe!!

This has been a big gripe for me ever since becomgin vegan.  So sorry for the rant I'm about to go on, but please let me know what you think...... 

Why is it that as soon as a vegan complains of something like gas, or hair, or anything else, a non veg*n will tell us that it's our diet that is the cause and somehow convince themselves that their diet of eating rotting carcass and boxed crap is more right then ever. 

Yet, it's these same people (well a vast majority, at least) who go to their doctors for their problems with IBS, diabetes, migraines, weight gain, bloating, cramping, allergies, diverticulitis, CANCER, etc., and not have the common sense to look at their own diets??  (hmm, I wonder why I have diverticulitis??  Maybe because you eat all packaged/diet/sugar-free crap out of a box or can, and you never eat fruits and vegetables??)  (Insert BIG DISCLAIMER here: I'm not saying that vegans don't suffer from these things, and I'm not saying that everyone who eats crap does.  I just named off all the afflictions that I've seen my meat eating/ non healthy family members suffer from as a direct result from their diet)

BUT if vegans were to let some of these people know that they may get relief, not to mention a possible cure to these by cutting out some meat, and adding in some fruits and veggies and grains and legumes, then we're being PREACHY and totally ignore us and chaulk it off as an extreme lifestyle!  But they'll let their doctors prescribe every medicine in the book that only masks the symptoms, and does nothing for the causes. 

 Any thoughts?  I'm sure we've all had an experience like this at some point.  Of course this is my third gripe after always hearing "What do you eat??", and "Where do you get your protein from??" AAARGH!!

I know what you mean exactly.

Yeah, that's so annoying! Last year my lacto-ovo vegetarian friend was trying to convince me to add egg and milk back into my diet because I looked so tired all the time. She couldn't grasp the concept that it was actually caused by me sleeping 5 hours a night...

im neither a vegetarian or a vegan, but i agree with you. the majority of today's "chronic illnesses" are caused by the terrible diets people eat. you cant stuff your body with artificial sweetners and trans fats etc and not expect a problem to come up somewhere.

Im not a vegan either, I do know however when I change my food or try something new i always end up with gas because my body is not used to what im eating. I also know that if I decide to eat unhealthy crap all week long guess what BOOM I have gas for days on end. I really dont think you are going to find anyone that will disagree with you on this post rather they be vegan or non like myself. You are what you eat and if you eat processed junk food on a daily basis with no veggies or fruits dont sit next to me at the movie theatre I dont wanna smell the after affects.

Before I started paying attention to what I ate last August, I never really thought much about all the junk I put into my body ... trans fats, saturated fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, chemicals, frankenfoods, etc.  Reading labels and learning about nutrition has been quite an eye-opening experience for me.... and it continues to be an ongoing learning process.

Even now, I am surprised by the comments, critique and criticism I get from various people about various aspects of my food choices. To some, I am eating "too many vegetables" and getting "too much fiber." To others, my occasional use of ... gasp!... artificial sweeteners is akin to committing sucralose-inspired suicide. Still others cringe when I mention things like Boca or Morninstar products ("just eat REAL food, they cry) ... while others criticize me for eating Amy's frozen vegetarian Shepherd's Pie once in a while (too much sodium! too much sodium!) And still others think I am nuts for preferring natural and organic foods over "real food."

And when I refer to my goal of eating a minimum of 10 meatless meals per week (I'm an omnivore), they look at me like I'm INSANE and instantly worry if I am getting enough protein. (For some reason, many people seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that protein exists in plant form ... amazing, huh?)

For me, my goal is simple: to eat as healthy as I can given my lifestyle choices and preferences and to do my best to lose weight in a healthy way. For me, that means I had to stop with junk food, stop with fast food, stop the HFCS and saturated fats and transfats and hydrogenated oils .... and to look for healthy replacements.

Veggies are indeed my new best friend.

=^..^= MOLLY

Yeah it's so funny. Just the other day I was at a meeting where a friend brought some doughnuts to share with everyone. I asked her if there were eggs and milk in it and she said "I think so." And I said "Oh well no thanks." And she asked "So you're stilll trying to be vegan?" And I replied "Yeah I'm trying, I may end up just being a stricter vegetarian but I still wanna make all the effort I can." Then she said "You need to be careful, that is SO unhealthy."

 Oh my gosh and eating doughnuts IS healthy?? Lol.

i think the problem is that some vegetarians or vegans set bad examples and only eat carbs or fat. potato chips are vegetarian! so is white rice! so is cheese with mayo on white bread! (not vegan, but I have a veggie friend who lives off this stuff).

while it can be a bit more challenging to eat a balanced diet as a vegetarian or vegan, and you do have to put more thought into it, it is possible. that said, it wouldn't kill most carnivores to put a little more thought (and veggies!) into their diets....

just some thoughts from a veggie-loving occasional meat eater....

I think that the majority of people just blindly follow the crowd.  They do not realize the power of marketing and advertising, the power of a news media that is run by the very same advertisers, and the power of the FDA which is run by the medical companies.  Why else would a person go to McDonalds Order a extra large "Value" meal and a "Diet" Coke on thier way to see their doctor about a " weight issue" and discuss getting the latest surgery to staple, band, or remove part of thier stomach.

Then they say to you that your Vegan or Veg diet is not healthy? Just doesn't make sense.

 

I totally know what you mean. My family is still trying to convince me I'm not healthy and need to eat meat. Even though I'm never sick, never feel bad, and my doctor say's I'm perfectly healthy. Some people will never get it, I just grin at them and eat my non animal products!

it's just how it will always be.
people are usually offended when i tell them i am vegan.

i guess it's because it seems extreme to a it of people.
and by not doing something because i think it's wrong or unhealthy or whatever i must be saying (without saying anything) that they are wrong for doing so.

For me personally, I've learned people just like to disagree and complain about everything I do.  It doesn't seem to matter what I do -- but I will always find a "hater" to tell me all about my "bad choices".

I say screw them. Make your own decisions and be happy with them. If it's something that feels right for you, and something that you can live with, then that's all thats important.

I've been vegetarian my whole life. Vegan for about 15 years - and have NEVER been sick in those 15 years.  So thats just more proof for me that I know I've made the right choice.  People (family included!) STILL comment about it at every single meal I eat around anyone.  I've just learned to ignore.   Just like I ignore all the comments about how i'm "wrong" because i'm a single mom, have two 200 lb pound dogs & 3 cats, support PETA and other animal rights groups,  work too much, homeschool my child, etc... etc... the list is endless....     no wonder I'm a recluse... hahahah

 

I was 'diagnosed with IBS' and all I was told was, "Here take some medication."  I became a vegetarian a little over a year ago, and a vegan a little over a month ago. Since giving up dairy, I haven't had near as many problems with my stomach.

Along with what some have said in this post, has anyone ever come up with a way to say something smart to the opinionated ones (the people who offer "advice" on what you should do) that put them in their place?  I just clam up when my coworkers start in on me.  I keep wanting to say "I know EXACTLY what I put in my body, do you?".  

Does anyone have something they can say that just gets them to shut the 'eff up, but nicely say it?

 

Original Post by melissa03:

I was 'diagnosed with IBS' and all I was told was, "Here take some medication." I became a vegetarian a little over a year ago, and a vegan a little over a month ago. Since giving up dairy, I haven't had near as many problems with my stomach.

 i used to have horrible stomach problems too. everyday. i would be afraid to go on a long car ride or have to sit through a class at school. i would have to use the bathroom a lot. but since i went vegan i haven't had that problem again. it's been 3 years!

I know what you mean.  I am used to living with my vegetarian boyfriend but am staying out of state for a few weeks for school and staying with someone who is distinctly NOT veg.  He comments on my diet - all those vegetables are going to give you gas, not enough protein (I get at least 50g daily), artificial sweeteners are going to give me neurological damage, soy has too many estrogens, etc etc

Meanwhile he pops Rolaids like candy, weighs 200+ pounds, drinks several full sugar 20oz sodas a day, eats McDonalds, Whataburger, Pizza, and always has a king-size Hershey's in the fridge.  But then also takes all these supplements !  I don't get it.

One of the first line things for IBS is more fiber, whether it is diarrhea or constipation type.  You really do have to increase it slowly though to prevent gas and associated cramps though. 

So my friend is probably right, a bunch of veggies probably would give him bad gas - but I'm used to it so I just have a normal amount (I think)