I’m a senior and have been nearly-vegan for roughly 7 years. I allow myself one egg a day (from pasture-raised chickens), but most days I skip it. I eat a serving of fish once every 6-8 weeks. Did the meat and dairy-free diet made a difference?
The first things to change were my weight, digestion, and energy level.
When I started out, I weighed 142 lbs. I rapidly lost the extra weight, and now maintain a steady morning weight of 119.5.
I suffered severe constipation for most of my life, but that resolved almost immediately.
My energy level increased dramatically. I now go hiking 1-2 days a week, and sometimes ride a kick-scooter on bike trails (kick-scooters provide a full-body workout). My average hiking distance is 5 miles, although I’ve gone as far as 14 in a single day (and don’t recommend it).
According to doctors, my osteopenia and antiphospholipid syndrome (a hyperclotting factor) vanished years ago. I no longer suffer the brain fog, hair loss, or weight gain associated with hypothyroidism.
This week, I decided to give myself a mini-physical at home, using a thermometer, an O2 monitor, a blood-pressure cuff, and a blood-glucose monitor.
These were the results:
Temperature 96.6
Oxygen level 99%
Resting pulse 58-64
Blood pressure 116/68
Average blood sugar 105 (102 when I remove the highest and lowest readings)
Here are the results of my blood sugar monitoring:
2021/03/16 – 92 – post-hiking; 5 hours after lunch; 1.5 hours after a granola bar
2021/03/16 – 106 – 1.5 hours after an egg and toast
2021/03/16 – 139 – 1/2 hour after a large bowl of popcorn
2021/03/17 – 103 – Overnight/8-hour fast
2021/03/17 – 101 – 3.5 hours after breakfast – oatmeal and sliced pineapple
2021/03/17 – 104 – 2 hours after a large salad (my main meal of the day)
2021/03/17 – 94 – 3 hours after a big bowl of popcorn
2021/03/18 – 96 – 5 hours after breakfast – oatmeal & sliced pineapple
2021/03/18 – 109 – 1 hour after a large salad, 1.5 pieces of bread, and 1 egg
I do use vitamin supplements, although this habit developed before becoming vegan. However, while eating a traditional American diet, I gained weight and developed chronic conditions in spite of supplementation.
Since becoming a vegan, all chronic ailments have disappeared over time. And when new ones threaten, I do my research and first address diet.
I hope this information is helpful to those contemplating a vegan diet. I became a vegan when I learned more about meat production. I read books and watched YouTube videos revealing the horrible living conditions of factory-farmed animals. I also learned that many steers have their legs removed and pelts stripped while still alive.
I became [mostly] vegan for the benefit of animals, but am amazed at the way it has helped me as well. Maybe it’s good karma—and there’s plenty of that to go around. I hope others will give veganism a try and grab some good karma for themselves. Let me know how it goes.
