 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Our Voices |
| P.O. Box 126 * Negaunee, MI 49866 * (906) 236-1279 * info@northernvegans.com |
| This page is designed to showcase the personal journeys of Northern Vegans members as they made the transition to a plant-based diet. |
LuAnne, 41
I wish I could say that I became vegan when I first realized that I was eating
the animals that I professed to love. Unfortunately, I chose to “fit in” instead.
When I learned that the average person eats 95 animals a year, my heart
ached for all the needless suffering that I condoned by my eating habits. I
have been vegan since 2004 and am relieved to know that I’m no longer
ignoring the plight of farmed animals.
Here is an abbreviated story of my long struggle figuring out why a vegan
lifestyle is the best thing for ALL life.
I had tonsillitis when I was 16 and was put on antibiotics every time they flared
up. A specialist decided to remove my tonsils when I was 17. I also had 4
wisdom teeth removed a month after that surgery. I was basically on
antibiotics for an entire year and was never the same after that. I ate tons of
sweets (I always had candy in my pocket or purse) and large quantities of
other food (especially fast food). I just couldn’t stop eating. I became
overweight, suffered from severe depression, and over the next few years my
health went downhill. I was mentally and physically exhausted all the time
and had constant headaches, stomach-aches and miscellaneous pains. I
took antacids and consumed many bottles of aspirin and ibuprofen. I became
lactose-intolerant in my early 20s and tried to keep eating milk products “for
the calcium” until my body wouldn’t accept them even with the lactose
digestive aids. I gave up ALL dairy products in my mid-20s.
In my 30s, my health got even worse. I suffered from dizziness, motion
sickness, chronic nausea, severe exhaustion, earaches, numerous skin
rashes, and sore throats. My mouth developed painful sores first from spicy
food and then from just about everything including toothpaste. Cigarette
smoke, household cleaners, paint, perfume and other scents triggered
headaches, dizziness and upset stomachs. During this time I lost weight
because just about everything I ate made me very nauseous and tired. I
visited several doctors over the years and all prescribed anti-depressants
because no medical reason could be found for my condition. When the
dizziness resulted in several faints one year I went to a doctor who told me
“don’t stand up so fast”. I went to an ear, nose and throat specialist who gave
me a nasal spray. Needless to say, neither worked for my problems. The
sad part is that NONE of the doctors ever asked me about my diet.
Desperate enough to try anything, I began reading books about food
intolerances, rotational diets and macrobiotics. Cooking was a lot of work for
me in my exhausted state so I only made feeble attempts to try new recipes
and foods. When I was 37, I noticed a lump growing in my neck. The doctor
thought it might be cancer from the biopsy. Finally, I thought, I have a “medical
reason” for all my problems! It’s very sad to think that for a few moments I
was thankful to have a reason for my problems, even if that reason was
cancer. Fortunately, the tumor was removed and tested benign.
The cancer scare was my wake-up call. It was then, finally, that I got it. My
body had been sending me messages that it wasn’t being taken care of
properly. The antibiotics that I had taken when I was 16 destroyed the healthy
bacteria in my intestinal tract and the food I ate further damaged my body. I
just didn’t know how to eat correctly. I hadn’t been taught about proper
nutrition and it certainly wasn’t advertised on TV.
I met my future husband, Kevin--a vegan of 13 years at that time, right before
my surgery. I was amazed to learn that a person could be so healthy without
eating any meat or dairy. I made the commitment to change my diet and
change my life. I gave up meat before my surgery and have never regretted it.
After my surgery, I used my new cookbooks to prepare meals but still
struggled during the first couple of years because of my busy schedule and
my attachment to the convenience of prepared foods. I have learned that
when I eat meals I prepared myself with whole organic foods, I feel better. I
have made it a habit to cook as many of my meals as possible and bring the
leftovers to work with me.
I quit my everyday habit of drinking caffeinated pop and coffee very gradually
and completely stopped drinking coffee when I was 38 and pop when I was
39. I also avoid processed sugar as much as possible because it triggers
skin break-outs, overeating, depression and fatigue for me.
I can now honestly say I feel the best that I ever have in my entire adult life. I
don’t feel that I have given anything up because I have gained so much. The
majority of my medical issues have resolved all on their own and those that
haven’t are greatly improved. I don’t even keep headache medications or
antacids in my house (or at work) anymore. I can’t remember the last time
that I “needed” them.
Besides the health aspect, the added bonus of being vegan is helping the
environment and not contributing to animal cruelty. It’s been the best decision
I’ve ever made, mentally and physically.
It’s been a LONG and difficult journey for me. I hope that if you identify with any
of my story that you are ready to make changes in your life. The results are
well worth it.
As of June 2007, my cholesterol was 128 and my blood pressure was 90
over 50.
As of Summer 2007, I am also trying to rotate food groups to avoid reactions
and treating a candida overgrowth. I continue to improve my health.
Click here for more Information from LuAnne
Click Here To Go Back to "Our Voices"
I wish I could say that I became vegan when I first realized that I was eating
the animals that I professed to love. Unfortunately, I chose to “fit in” instead.
When I learned that the average person eats 95 animals a year, my heart
ached for all the needless suffering that I condoned by my eating habits. I
have been vegan since 2004 and am relieved to know that I’m no longer
ignoring the plight of farmed animals.
Here is an abbreviated story of my long struggle figuring out why a vegan
lifestyle is the best thing for ALL life.
I had tonsillitis when I was 16 and was put on antibiotics every time they flared
up. A specialist decided to remove my tonsils when I was 17. I also had 4
wisdom teeth removed a month after that surgery. I was basically on
antibiotics for an entire year and was never the same after that. I ate tons of
sweets (I always had candy in my pocket or purse) and large quantities of
other food (especially fast food). I just couldn’t stop eating. I became
overweight, suffered from severe depression, and over the next few years my
health went downhill. I was mentally and physically exhausted all the time
and had constant headaches, stomach-aches and miscellaneous pains. I
took antacids and consumed many bottles of aspirin and ibuprofen. I became
lactose-intolerant in my early 20s and tried to keep eating milk products “for
the calcium” until my body wouldn’t accept them even with the lactose
digestive aids. I gave up ALL dairy products in my mid-20s.
In my 30s, my health got even worse. I suffered from dizziness, motion
sickness, chronic nausea, severe exhaustion, earaches, numerous skin
rashes, and sore throats. My mouth developed painful sores first from spicy
food and then from just about everything including toothpaste. Cigarette
smoke, household cleaners, paint, perfume and other scents triggered
headaches, dizziness and upset stomachs. During this time I lost weight
because just about everything I ate made me very nauseous and tired. I
visited several doctors over the years and all prescribed anti-depressants
because no medical reason could be found for my condition. When the
dizziness resulted in several faints one year I went to a doctor who told me
“don’t stand up so fast”. I went to an ear, nose and throat specialist who gave
me a nasal spray. Needless to say, neither worked for my problems. The
sad part is that NONE of the doctors ever asked me about my diet.
Desperate enough to try anything, I began reading books about food
intolerances, rotational diets and macrobiotics. Cooking was a lot of work for
me in my exhausted state so I only made feeble attempts to try new recipes
and foods. When I was 37, I noticed a lump growing in my neck. The doctor
thought it might be cancer from the biopsy. Finally, I thought, I have a “medical
reason” for all my problems! It’s very sad to think that for a few moments I
was thankful to have a reason for my problems, even if that reason was
cancer. Fortunately, the tumor was removed and tested benign.
The cancer scare was my wake-up call. It was then, finally, that I got it. My
body had been sending me messages that it wasn’t being taken care of
properly. The antibiotics that I had taken when I was 16 destroyed the healthy
bacteria in my intestinal tract and the food I ate further damaged my body. I
just didn’t know how to eat correctly. I hadn’t been taught about proper
nutrition and it certainly wasn’t advertised on TV.
I met my future husband, Kevin--a vegan of 13 years at that time, right before
my surgery. I was amazed to learn that a person could be so healthy without
eating any meat or dairy. I made the commitment to change my diet and
change my life. I gave up meat before my surgery and have never regretted it.
After my surgery, I used my new cookbooks to prepare meals but still
struggled during the first couple of years because of my busy schedule and
my attachment to the convenience of prepared foods. I have learned that
when I eat meals I prepared myself with whole organic foods, I feel better. I
have made it a habit to cook as many of my meals as possible and bring the
leftovers to work with me.
I quit my everyday habit of drinking caffeinated pop and coffee very gradually
and completely stopped drinking coffee when I was 38 and pop when I was
39. I also avoid processed sugar as much as possible because it triggers
skin break-outs, overeating, depression and fatigue for me.
I can now honestly say I feel the best that I ever have in my entire adult life. I
don’t feel that I have given anything up because I have gained so much. The
majority of my medical issues have resolved all on their own and those that
haven’t are greatly improved. I don’t even keep headache medications or
antacids in my house (or at work) anymore. I can’t remember the last time
that I “needed” them.
Besides the health aspect, the added bonus of being vegan is helping the
environment and not contributing to animal cruelty. It’s been the best decision
I’ve ever made, mentally and physically.
It’s been a LONG and difficult journey for me. I hope that if you identify with any
of my story that you are ready to make changes in your life. The results are
well worth it.
As of June 2007, my cholesterol was 128 and my blood pressure was 90
over 50.
As of Summer 2007, I am also trying to rotate food groups to avoid reactions
and treating a candida overgrowth. I continue to improve my health.
Click here for more Information from LuAnne
Click Here To Go Back to "Our Voices"