Comments on: My Escape from Vegan Island

By: M Lee

M Lee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:17:26 +0000

Thank you for your blog! I’ve been looking at both sides of the dietary issue for a long time now, as I have Lyme disease and want to get well. I tried the McDougall diet for six months, along with my husband, and we felt well for a time, but I noticed after awhile that I no longer felt strong and my husband was starting to look haggard (even though he said he felt fine). His cholesterol went down 40 points from 180 to 140, but now I’m reading cholesterol may not be the bogey man after all, as might not be fats (The Cholesterol Myth) (Eat Fat, Loose Weight).

Anyway, we’ve decided to add back grass fed meat, but still do a lot of vegetables. We always have done no to low sugar, and whole grains. I have gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance so that complicates diet even more also.

Listen to your body is GOOD ADVICE. While on McDougall, I felt that I just had to have eggs! Then, I just had to have a steak (went to Outback for my son’s birthday) I’ve never been a big steak eater. My body was telling me something, even before we decided to quit McDougall.

The Bible says it well: Moderation in all things.

By: pjnoir

pjnoir — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:58:29 +0000

Low- carb especially as developed by Dr Atkins SAVED my life. If people read the book and not the synopsis, they would have far better results and understanding of the diet. I still used Atkins low carb practices in my Primal/IF lifestyle with great success. If left to the ADA and bozos like Ornish and the “grain is good for you so eat lots and no meat” folks- I’d be shooting insulin several times a day- just to break even. Today I use no meds at all, lost 50 lbs, gained a washboard belly and decent muscle tone for someone my age. Thank God for Atkins and all the folks on his shoulders.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:13:07 +0000

ALL vegetarians and vegans and Mark! I would recommend a book called The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith.

By: Elsie

Elsie — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:57:24 +0000

Great post. I am new to MDA and I love it already. I am awaiting my copy of PB [which I hope will arrive really, really soon ]
I had been a vegetarian for most of 2008 because I hoped and believed it would be a healthier choice, and would help me lose weight… Can I hear a whatever!! I picked up a lot of weight and along with that, Insulin Resistance.
I know that low-carb works, but aching bones made me drop off the Atkins bandwagon faster than you can say Steak and Eggs.
I think the Primal Blueprint really makes sense because it is a balanced lifestyle program, that not only promotes healthy unrefined and unprocessed food choices, but really goes that extra mile in helping one realize life should be enjoyed at every level, work or play.
Avoiding grain products really makes sense, because every nutrient we can possibly get from grains are readily available in fresh produce and a lot easier to digest.
This makes total sense. Hubby and I will both be implementing this lifestyle.
Thank you Mark for a great website.
Elsie
South Africa

By: Valerie

Valerie — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:47:11 +0000

I married a vegan, who chose it over me in the end. He had really low energy, low moods, and low libido. He could not keep up with me who was four years older, and would be really cranky, because he would often not eat breakfast.
the marriage was a disaster because of his inflexabibity. I begged him to give up the diet, but he thought he was doing it for his health. He used to say he was “optimized” metabolically, but I argued that if “you don’t move much, you don’t need a lot”.
He thought it would help his high cholorstoral (214), but he did not exercise at all.
He was really fearful of pain and the sight of blood, which I think was more of the reason for his choice.
I did develop a healthy eating style because of him, but chose organic veggies and meat instead of following down the “vegan road”.
Did I also mention, he did not cook for me, and I had to cook for him. Oh and lastly, when we did get married, he was shocked by the price of organics- so perhaps he was simply trying to save money.
I would never date a vegan/vegetarian ever again- too restricting at so many levels.

By: kuno1chi

kuno1chi — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:27:18 +0000

I would die on this diet in about three weeks.

By: Christopher Byrne

Christopher Byrne — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:54:23 +0000

Wow, some great insights into delusional belief systems in these comments. I mean, the science is pretty simple – replace carbs with natural fat and protein, eat whole foods, short intense exercise, de-stress. All this vegan = good talk is ridiculous – if you aren’t getting adequate protein and fat, then the macronutrient composition of your diet is HIGH CARB – complete with all the biochemistry that comes with it. Sure, vegetables are better than doughnuts, but that doesn’t make consuming them alone, optimal.

As for the China Study, I suggest those of you citing it as evidence of your vegetarian superiority might like to first learn a little about evaluating studies, the difference between correlation and causality, and the value of epidemiological studies for anything other than hypothesis construction. I have no dog in this fight – I eat lots of meat and lots of green leafy veg, but I must admit that I do dislike idiots who have mistaken their interest in a topic for authority on it.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:30:11 +0000

If anyone is sanctimonious and self-rightous, it is the meat-eaters. I really can’t imagine why anyone is offended that some choose not to eat meat or animal products. Perhaps the meat producers?

It’s absurd to compare the pain and fear felt by fellow mammals and other sentient animals to that (if any) of plants.

I’ve never heard of McDougall or his books or his buffet, but a well-informed vegetarian or vegan will eat a big variety of vegetables and fruit, and all kinds of beans and lentils and nuts and seeds. Breads and cereals and pasta should be whole grain. Nobody should be eating simple carbs.

I just found an excellent book at my local hospital’s community health library: “The New Becoming Vegetarian.” Everything you need to know. Another book, which is endorsed by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and contains extensive information about foods to help prevent and/or treat cancer is “How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine.”

By: pjnoir

pjnoir — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:53:10 +0000

Fool- fast food or McD’s is not the diet a primal would eat. All meat is not equal. You have to eat CLEAN grass fed meats. Killing for food happens is a way of life. Do you pick up fruit that fell off the tree from the ground or do you ‘HARVEST’ whil it is still alive? It is about being Human- we are what we are. Disney gave animal faces and voices and for a huge Profit.

By: Rebecca Michelle Guelfi

Rebecca Michelle Guelfi — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:25:55 +0000

When I was a veg for a few years it was the most unhealthy I ever felt. I became anemic, after about two years I began to daydream about meat. This helped me realize maybe my body was trying to tell me something? I feel much better now that I have a balanced diet and have quit demonizing meat.