Is Anyone Out There Vegan, Or Has Anyone Tried A "raw Diet"?

[Anonymousgurl]

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[MySuicidalTurtle]

I am a vegan! It isn't hard and I enjoy it. There is another message board for vegetarian/vegan Celiacs but not many people post there but I like it- Open Original Shared Link. I hope it makes you feel better.

[kenlove]

Hi,

i've gone about 90% raw (since being diagnosed last year) thanks to a friend who publishes living nutrition magazine. I research and write about tropical fruit which is what I usually eat but being in Hawaii it's hard to not have a plate of rice stuck in front of me at different events.

The other thing I found is that I cant eat after 4 in the afternoon without some problems with DH or cramps.

Good luck

Ken

Goodness, food and I just don't seem to mix. I react to what seems like everything. Even simple things like oil these days. But ANYWAYS...i found that I react to a lot of products that come from animals, so i've cut out eggs, dairy, and meat....so the only thing left that I'm eating now is poultry (chicken and turkey). But I've found that I think I feel better on days that I don't eat it....so I was wondering if any of you have gone vegan, or even more extreme...raw? It sounds like a great idea, but for me it may be hard...I've been trying to gain weight now for about 6 months since I'm about 40 pounds underweight, but it hasn't gone well because of all of the issues I have with my digestive system. But anyways....gosh I'm so sorry, I feel like I'm rambling....basically I just wanted to know if any of you have tried going vegan or raw, and how it went....thanks!

[Teacher1958]

I'm vegan right now. I had been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for thirty years and had intended to keep eating dairy products, but when I gave up gluten, the dairy products started bothering me, too. I guess this is pretty common, and most people have to give up the dairy for at least six months, then slowly reintroduce it. I've been eating lots of soy yogurt, enriched gluten-free bagels, nuts, fruit, vegetables, beans (hummus can become a very nice staple to have around), gluten-free noodles, and other products. I will probably try dairy again in the fall, although my son says that this is the perfect chance to go vegan and not have to use animal products anymore. This is from a kid who keeps trying to go vegan, but ends up eating meat, because he enjoys it so much!

[hathor]

I've been eating vegan for years. Adding gluten free earlier this year wasn't that big a stretch. Avoiding soy now is more challenging, but I'm managing.

We'll see how I feel after vacation. Leaving today for nearly 3 weeks ... my first extended trip since going gluten-free. I should be excited about vacation and I'm obsessed instead with food!

Anyway, search through the message board. This topic has come up repeatedly.

A few ideas for you since I'm pressed for time:

The book Food Allergy Survival Guide contains all vegan recipes, without gluten and other common allergens. It also has nutrition & menu planning information.

The fatfreevegan website has a gluten free section. But really, most vegan recipes can be converted into gluten-free (particularly if you don't have to avoid soy) and there are scads of them out there.

Check out Open Original Shared Link Lots of recipes, and more all the time.

I'm unsure about raw diets, particularly for those with digestive issues. I've heard from folks who think they got really sick from doing this. A jump to simple vegan first is probably best. I don't claim to know a lot about this subject, however. A raw diet never appealed to me.

If you have any questions remaining after June 19th, ask then. Well, I'm off with my Hungarian, German, & Dutch translations of "I follow vegan & celiac diets & can't have soybeans or yeast either" (my paraphrase). Let's see if I "waste away to nothing," my MIL's concern. She's on this vacation with us too, so maybe she is my secret weapon on coaxing food about of people

[spunky]

Have a nice trip, Hathor! And I hope you find lots of good stuff to eat! I hear European countries are more aware of celiac, so, at least let's hope that's true...not sure about the other sensitivities, though.

As for vegan...oh my gosh...I have a lot of very confused feelings about this right now.

In my own case, I was vegetarian, including eggs and dairy, for several years, and then 10 years ago dropped all of that stuff and became totally vegan. I felt fine at the time, but had read vegan doctors' writings about health, etc., and just did it to prevent future health problems.

Starting out, I started having some mild on & off intestinal issues...People on message boards assured me this was just temporary adjustment to the diet, "detox," etc., and to just keep going. Well, I kept reading the whole time about the miraculous health possible on the vegan diet, gradually just getting used to the intestinal issues, and life went by very busily...had to prepare for two weddings and taking care of elderly parents who'd become seriously ill, and lots of busy times in general, when I realized at one point that I was the subject of laughter at meetings because my stomach howled so loudly it interrupted a room full of people who had to all stop and laugh (yeah, it hurt like the dickens too, but I was more worried about the embarrassment), that I had unpredictable, uncontrollabe multiple, acid-burning, broken-glass cutting poops everyday...couldn't go when I tried, but couldn't NOT go when I tried (had to carry extra clothes around every day!!!), gas, pain bloating...acid reflux constantly, had red eyes and looked and felt generally horrible. This all sort of crept up on me...at one point I'd e-mailed the vegan doctor and asked if he thought gluten could be a problem...he didn't think so, and so I went along my pathetic way, thoroughly believing in veganism, and eating tons and tons of whole wheat bread, kamut pancakes, rye crackers, barley-sweetened vegan treats, spelt donuts, pasta galore...sometimes even vegan meat substitutes consisting entirely of gluten!

When I realized how I had begun limiting my life as much as possible, preferring to stay either in my closed office at work, or home, how miserable I felt every single day...how I was hiding all of this from my husband, for fear he would insist I go to a doctor, and how I'd come to believe I might be dying of some horrid disease, but had decided to just let nature take me when the time was ready, etc., etc., etc., I finally got it through my thick head that maybe veganism was not settling well with me personally, and thankfully found out how to quit eating gluten, stay away from the stuff, and how to expect the healing to progress. Finally I came out and explained all of this to my husband, who was sort of shocked, in disbelief, but then realized all I said did make sense and I had a serious problem with gluten.

So, for me, veganism seems to have instigated this celiac thing. Soon after I got all better from the gluten (and THAT took a year, really, now it's been 16 months and I'm still seeing improvement all the time) the soy started bothering me. I finally threw in the towel, and decided that no matter what the vegan doctors say, for me, at least, wild fish and free range eggs don't make me feel bad at all, are easy and convenient to fix, etc.

I can quickly cook wild-caught salmon, have a salad and baked potato and pretty much have a nice meal that makes me feel GOOD instead of TERRIBLE. So...starting vegan after all ready being gluten free...well, it might be okay for some people who are willing to go through the effort. For me, I'm heading the other way, personally, and feeling better all the time. I would never eat anything dairy, though, or anything fed by man or factory farmed in any way.

[Anonymousgurl]

Thank you so much...ALL OF YOU...for your great responses I'll definitely be checking out those websites that you guys suggested as soon as I finish this post! So thanks Turtle for that vegiac link...I'm really interested to check it out!

Hathor,

I hope you have a great trip! I wish you lots of luck with your diet while you're away! You know, you seem to be JUST the person I've been looking to talk to, because I also have to be careful of soy too. I have some hormone issues and just don't think soy would help too much. So I was wondering, how exactly do you get your protein? I mean, I practically LIVE on beans now...at least a cup a day (half a cup each meal), and chicken (which is what I want to quit eating)....but I'm not sure if I'd be getting enough protein if I cut the chicken out, especially with my situation, trying to gain healthy weight and weight training to build muscle mass back. Do you feel that you get enough protein? Well, I'll start out by checking out the link you gave me

Spunky,

Thanks for sharing your story! I'm sorry going vegan went so terribly for you. I'm worried that things might go a little wrong if I try it out too, since I'm already having SO many issues with food...I don't want to tack more onto the list!

Anyone else have any words of wisdom?

[BRUMI1968]

I recently added meat back to my diet after 16 years of vegetarian and two years of vegan. I tried to do raw last summer, and it went alright, but when the weather cooled down, I found it difficult. I think I added meat back out of frustration for lack of foods, especially when I decided to go grain free. I have been trying to do the Paleolithic diet for the most part, and other than the nuts, it seems to work pretty well for me.

one thing is for sure - it is hard to keep on weight going raw. I know several raw foodists who have lost tons of weight, to the point where they no longer look healthy. If you're already under weight, you might consider eating a raw meal each day, or eating all your snacks raw -- but you might want to be careful going over 60-70% raw.

Good luck!

[jvalentine89]

I used to be vegan for 3 years and I tried really hard to get in all the necessary nutrients that I was deficient in. Unfortunately, I'm intolerant to soy so it was hard for me to get protein. A staple of vegan protein often includes protein-fortified "soy meats" which often include gluten....and don't even get me started on the seitan episode I experienced! It was also extremely difficult to get in enough calories on such a bulky diet. One product that helped me with the protein issue was rice protein packets that you could make smoothies out of. They are kind of chalky tasting but healthy non-the less. Good luck on your decision and I hope you find what works for you!

[GFAngel]

I love this topic as I've been thinking about raw (but not doing much about it) for a few months now. I was a fat vegetarian for years and years. I was a Kashi queen for 13 of those. My gluten went to my gut, hips and thighs and arms and and and head! I was in a fog for most of my life. Not so much GI pains; just constipation (which I didn't think was bad enough to mention to my doctor ... think that matters anyway?)

I can't help but think that vegetarians and vegans might be innate in trying to help themselves; only in the wrong places ... I didn't give up meat for ethical reasons; I just didn't care for the fat, so I stayed away. I never heard of someone giving up bread ... wish I'd known about all gluten had to "offer!"

So since dx I've been reading my brains out about nutrition. (I went to a nutritionist to help me with my issues and I was her first celiac ). I now know that I was protein deficient for sure. The beans and rice helped me maintain or gain. All the whole grains kept me hungry. I know that I lose weight eating grain free or really low nongluten grains and, veggies/some fruit. Soy's no good cause celiac wrecked my thyroid. It's quite a change; whereas I would wait too long between meals if I ate at all (depression), now I have to stop and graze, which with my ADD personality is hard for me to do. I'm not a planner, which is detrimental to the dieting. I'm bored and stressed out thinking about food all the time. I've been reborn since going gluten-free and I haven't the foggiest what to do with my new life!

I really appreciate everything written about this here ... I helps me continue to incorporate more veggies in my diet. I will check out that vegiac site too. Cool beans

Signed,

Former Couch Potato

[Teacher1958]

I used to be vegan for 3 years and I tried really hard to get in all the necessary nutrients that I was deficient in. Unfortunately, I'm intolerant to soy so it was hard for me to get protein. A staple of vegan protein often includes protein-fortified "soy meats" which often include gluten....and don't even get me started on the seitan episode I experienced! It was also extremely difficult to get in enough calories on such a bulky diet. One product that helped me with the protein issue was rice protein packets that you could make smoothies out of. They are kind of chalky tasting but healthy non-the less. Good luck on your decision and I hope you find what works for you!

I'm a vegan right now until at least October. If I couldn't eat soy, though, I would have to start eating fish or something. I really rely on soy for protein.

[Anonymousgurl]

Wow, thank you so much for your input everyone! SO...I've been vegan for about 3 days now I eat about 2 cups of beans a day, trying to get that protein in...and tons and tons of fruits and veggies, plus some rice porridge, sweet potato, and rice flour pancakes. I'm on a 2500 calorie diet so I'm just hoping that since I'm eating so much, im getting protein in. My hormones are ALL out of wack...I haven't had a period in almost 3 years, but I decided that in order to get protein and calcium I'm going to have about a cup of soy a day. Does anyone have any input, advice?

[spunky]

I hope it all works out for ya!

If I could eat soy, I'd be vegan again too...but without soy sauce, tofu, tofu pups hot dogs, etc., not to mention all the gluteny stuff...I just can't seem to manage anymore.

Let us know how your veganism goes! I hope it keeps working for you!

[Anonymousgurl]

So being vegan AND gluten free is going surprisingly well! I actually feel GREAT! Thanks guys

The only thing is, I'm having trouble finding recipes that work for me. I've realized that my diet is EXACTLY like the McDougal diet (vegan and fat free), but those recipes are hard to come by. But I just wanted to share the dinner that I made tonight, you should all try it...I was so proud that I thought it up all by myself! LoL. I guess you have to be creative when you have this many limitations

So basically, I made a vegan, fat free, gluten free eggplant casserole.

I have a George Forman grill, and I use it to grill a lot of my veggies. Tonight I used it to just soften eggplant and zucchini. I sprinkled them with garlic powder, and put them on the grill for just a couple of seconds. Then I got out some sweet onion, fresh garlic, red bell pepper, plain canned tomato sauce and red beans. I coated the bottom of the pan with the tomato sauce, then chopped up some garlic and sprinkled it on top. Then I layed down some eggplant. I covered the eggplant with tomato sauce, garlic, onions and beans. Then I layed down a second layer of eggplant. I continued layering like that, but with zuchinni as the last layer. On top of the zuchinni I put a thin layer of spaghetti sauce and a thick layer of onion. Then I stuck it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. I covered the top with foil for 20 minutes then took it off and let the onions on the top brown. It was delicious! I'm glad I cut everything thin too, because everything had a great texture and such great flavor.

Anyone have any recipes that they reccomend?

[hathor]

There is no problem getting enough protein following a normal vegetarian diet, even without soy or huge amounts of beans. People following the SAD (Standard American Diet) get too much protein and it isn't good for them. Information about both points can be found here:

Open Original Shared Link

Sorry I took so long answering. After vacation I was sick, and then my kids were monopolizing the computer. So it has taken me awhile to plug away at my literally hundreds of emails. Most of which were recipes from that Yahoo group I mentioned earlier...

My trip was great except for the food. The ship's kitchen accidentally gave me soy sauce one time and egg another -- after repeatedly telling them (orally & in writing) what I could and couldn't have and even warning in advance about those particular dishes I thought might contain those ingredients. As in "Don't bring me the vegetables if they have soy sauce; I can't eat that," etc. So I got sick. Fortunately, I don't get diarrhea; that would have been inconvenient. They were always recommending things to me I obviously couldn't have. I don't know if it was lack of knowledge or a language problem (Hungarian waiters, Austrian chef). Just to get enough food I had to eat fish. Unfortunately, the way they served it was invariably with some sort of cream sauce. Leaving that off it was kind of boring. Good thing there was unlimited free wine with dinner

If anything, I felt worse from adding the fish to my diet. Of course, there might have been cross- contamination or I was tired from all the walking tours. Or I just had more wine that I am used to I felt much better once I got back to my regular diet at home.

Turns out that, in the little more than 100 passengers, there were at least six of us that couldn't have gluten. At least this led them to make some gluten-free bread (tried feeding some of it to some ducks -- they had real problems with the stuff Me too ) and get some gluten-free pasta (which usually had cream and cheese put on it). Aaargh. We spent a lot of time talking to each other (the other celiacs, not the ducks and I, although I did apologize to the latter for foisting the bread on them). I found out that the bread wasn't so bad if it was crumbed up in the consomme (every other soup for the soup course seemed to have cream).

I also needed to try goat cheese, because it was the only possibility I could find one night at a restaurant, before the cruise when I was still trying to stay vegetarian. Turns out I can handle this just fine. Now I have to deal with the only temptation I've had to pull me from my vegan diet. It was so good. But a little goes a long way. I figure I can have a few crumbles on a salad occasionally and that will be OK. Right?

I hope this reply isn't too disjointed. I've been trying to finish off all my accumulated email and get up to date on the boards I participate in before I go to bed. But I'm getting kinda punchy. Fortunately, I think I've finally finished ...

[hathor]

I forgot to mention other recipe sources. McDougall has cookbooks out & most of his regular books have many recipes in them too. Go to his website & the archived newsletters all have recipes and there is a recipe board. I think that somewhere on Vegsource you can find recipes as well. I really like the recipes at Open Original Shared Link Of course, these aren't all gluten or soy free, but many are, or they can be adapted. I mentioned fatfreevegan.com before.

Dr. Barnard's web site has a slew of recipes. I can look up some other web sites that people have recommended, but I don't want to overwhelm you.

I recently ran across this blog with gluten-free vegetarian recipes. Open Original Shared Link I haven't tried any though. She lists a number of other blogs, so undoubtedly there and even more recipes you can slog through if you want.

I find that a lot of what I do is from just regular vegetarian or vegan cookbooks. Or I just make something up given what I have available in the house -- after a while, this gets easier

[confusedks]

I just wanted to say that my mom recently went to a Health Institute which is completely raw and she came back with terrible stomach problems. When I went to my dr. before we knew about Celiac, he told me to AVOID raw foods because they are harder to digest. That's just what I was told.

Kassandra