How to introduce meat into my diet after 9 years vego?

[LJ-Azura]

Hi, new to this website!

I've been vegetarian for 9 years and want to introduce meat back into my diet because I'm having issues with nutritional deficiencies. When I eat gluten I vommit for hours (I've torn muscles & nerves in my neck and throat) and suffer entire body inflammation (among millions of other things). I tried to eat salmon this evening and am suffering horrible pain and bloating in my abdominal area and stomach.

I wanted to start eating meat again because I've got chronic fatigue and suffer fainting spells. I also get migraines and can't have hot showers as I faint. Iron supplements do not help me and bone broth gives me abdominal and stomach pain. 

I take L-Glutamine supplement powder and haven't really noticed any difference.

This is a lot to take in but I was wondering if anyone had any advice please? 

I'm really grateful I came across this website as it's extremely hard to navigate this alone.

Thank you in advance! :)

[trents]

With the meat start with very small portions and increase the amount very slowly. What about eggs?

[LJ-Azura]

1 minute ago, trents said:

With the meat start with very small portions and increase the amount very slowly. What about eggs?

Thank you! I love eggs! They are one of the few things that don't cause discomfort. As for the meat I only ate 2 bites of salmon. Intense pain. Was that too much? 

[trents]

Try one bite. Try other kinds of meat. Try turkey.

Do you do dairy? Eggs and dairy would have many of the same nutrients as meat.

What about yogurt and probiotics. You likely need to build your gut microbes back up so that you have more of the bacteria that work in meat protein. Digestive enzyme supplements might also help.

[LJ-Azura]

2 minutes ago, trents said:

Try one bite. Try other kinds of meat. Try turkey.

Do you do dairy? Eggs and dairy would have many of the same nutrients as meat.

What about yogurt and probiotics. You likely need to build your gut microbes back up so that you have more of the bacteria that work in meat protein. Digestive enzyme supplements might also help.

I do minimal dairy and no soy because I get bloating and abdominal pain if I eat it. I drink lactose free milk. I have cheese every second day as too much hurts me. 

Okay thanks very much! I will try digestive enzymes and probiotics.

[trents]

Do some research on probiotics. Most of what is sold over the counter is worthless since the bacteria cultures they contained are killed by stomach acid before they ever get into the gut far enough to do any good.

[knitty kitty]

4 hours ago, LJ_Azura said:

Hi, new to this website!

I've been vegetarian for 9 years and want to introduce meat back into my diet because I'm having issues with nutritional deficiencies. When I eat gluten I vommit for hours (I've torn muscles & nerves in my neck and throat) and suffer entire body inflammation (among millions of other things). I tried to eat salmon this evening and am suffering horrible pain and bloating in my abdominal area and stomach.

I wanted to start eating meat again because I've got chronic fatigue and suffer fainting spells. I also get migraines and can't have hot showers as I faint. Iron supplements do not help me and bone broth gives me abdominal and stomach pain. 

I take L-Glutamine supplement powder and haven't really noticed any difference.

This is a lot to take in but I was wondering if anyone had any advice please? 

I'm really grateful I came across this website as it's extremely hard to navigate this alone.

Thank you in advance!

You may want to discuss with your doctor the benefits of supplementing with a B Complex vitamin and high dose Thiamine.  

Thiamine is needed for digestion, to turn proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy for the body to function.

Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include fatigue and migraines.  POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) due to thiamine deficiency can cause fainting.  

Thiamine is found in meat, so being a vegetarian probably has some bearing on thiamine insufficiency.  

I took high dose Thiamine to replenish my system.  

Here's some information.  See if your symptoms are similar.

Thiamine and fatigue in inflammatory bowel diseases: an open-label pilot study

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23379830/

And...

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-riboflavin-chronic-fatigue/

And...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33210299/

 

[LJ-Azura]

39 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

You may want to discuss with your doctor the benefits of supplementing with a B Complex vitamin and high dose Thiamine.  

Thiamine is needed for digestion, to turn proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy for the body to function.

Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include fatigue and migraines.  POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) due to thiamine deficiency can cause fainting.  

Thiamine is found in meat, so being a vegetarian probably has some bearing on thiamine insufficiency.  

I took high dose Thiamine to replenish my system.  

Here's some information.  See if your symptoms are similar.

Thiamine and fatigue in inflammatory bowel diseases: an open-label pilot study

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23379830/

And...

https://www.hormonesmatter.com/thiamine-riboflavin-chronic-fatigue/

And...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33210299/

 

Thank you!!

I had low iron when I was eating meat then once I stopped eating it, it was fine. Recently it has been fine too but I've never heard of thiamine before. I don't have a western doctor, only a Chinese doctor. Could you suggest a suitable brand or know a good online store to purchase thiamine &/or vitamin B please?

[Wheatwacked]

Solgar B1-Thiamin, 500 mg. $18 for a bottle of 100 tablets.  I've been on it for a week now and already feeling improvement over the 6 mg a day (500% RDA) I was getting between food and a B complex. Piping Rock is a good online source for most of the other vitamins I take, but I got this at Vitamin Shoppes locally. Started at one a day to test response and increased to twice a day for the time being.

[knitty kitty]

3 hours ago, LJ_Azura said:

Thank you!!

I had low iron when I was eating meat then once I stopped eating it, it was fine. Recently it has been fine too but I've never heard of thiamine before. I don't have a western doctor, only a Chinese doctor. Could you suggest a suitable brand or know a good online store to purchase thiamine &/or vitamin B please?

There's that big online store that starts with an A where I get mine. 

Thiamine HCl (thiamine hydrochloride) is very basic thiamine.  NOW brand is what I started with...

https://www.nowfoods.com/products/supplements/vitamin-b-1-100-mg-tablets

 I also take Benfotiamine, a fat soluble form of thiamine that promotes intestinal healing...

https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item00920/benfotiamine-with-thiamine?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr82R8eTp9QIVYxXUAR3IPwaBEAQYAiABEgJTdPD_BwE

There are eight B vitamins...Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, pyridoxine, folate and B12 (Cobalamine), pantothetic acid and biotin.  They are all water soluble and they need each other to work properly.  Taking a B Complex in addition to separate Thiamine is a good way to go.  Discuss supplementation with your doctor.

Thiamine can't be stored for long.  Insufficiency can occur in as little as nine days.  Our bodies need more thiamine during an illness (thiamine has been found to help patients with Covid on respirators and also with "long haulers").  We also need more thiamine when under emotional stress (the brain can use as much thiamine just thinking as the body uses during physical labor), when doing physical labor or working out, and when outside in hot weather.

300 to 1000 mg a day can help replenish your thiamine level.  Find what works for you.  

Vegetables are high in copper.  Low iron or iron deficiency anemia that is nonresponsive to iron supplementation can be due to copper deficiency.  We need both iron and copper to make red blood cells. 

Liver is a good source of both iron and copper plus all the B vitamins.  Liver is also a good source for the four fat soluble vitamins (Vitamins A, D, E, and K).  Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables, not liver.    

Hope this helps! 

 

 

[Darcy Martinez]

You need stomach acid to break down meat.  Drink orange juice or mountain dew with meat, they are both high in acid. 

[trents]

https://www.cleaneatingkitchen.com/how-to-reintroduce-meat-vegan/

LJ, note the reference to betaine HCL. This might really help.

[LJ-Azura]

Hi there,

Follow up report.

I have now tried lamb & chicken and have no painful cramps or stomach issues except....... Constipation!!!! It has been 5 days since my last porcelain throne visit and it's beginning to concern me. 

Today I drank prune juice and it hasn't helped as of yet. What should I do? 😭🤣🤦🏽‍♀️ Very embarrassing. But the lamb and chicken tasted great!

Apologies for the TMI. 

[Wheatwacked]

Fiber. 100 gm of uncooked beans have 20 grams protein, 17 grams fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, thiamin, 130% RDA of folate. All good for the bones and feeds the beneficial gut bacteria. Recommended fiber is 30 grams. It will have you moving nicely in a short time. I cook my own to avoid added salt and the other preservatives in the cans that cause gastric distress; and to save money. Make sure to soak overnight to remove the lectins (its natural defense against being eaten), rinse well, bring to a boil then simmer covered for an hour and rinse again. They keep well in the fridge for several days in freezer grade air-tight containers. 180 grams dry makes around 360 cooked. I like small red beans, chickpeas and pinto beans for varied taste and texture. It would go well with the lamb and chicken.  I throw in 2 oz red bell peppers, chili or curry powder or whatever flavors you like, add 4 ounces of no salt added canned tomatoes. Now salt to taste. Serve on a bed of chopped red leaf lettuce. Not counting the meat: 400 calories.

[trents]

Milk of magnesia to soften things and break the dam. I might be a good idea to take a magnesium supplement on a regular basis as well. There are various forms of mag supplements. Some assimilate better than others and so have less laxative potential which can be an issue if too much is taken. So research first.

Edited February 18, 2022 by trents