Change in perspective after going vegan

[IndianVegan]

Sudden change in perspective after going vegan

Yesterday, I avoided a major health crisis thanks to the timely intervention by nurses at the ER. I decided to express my gratitude by going completely vegan. (I was already vegetarian for a few years.)

So I skipped my cold coffee this morning. Though the caffeine withdrawal initially gave me a headache, I felt better in the evening. My mind felt clear, and I ruminated less. Could this be because I no longer feel guilty about consuming milk?

I feel like I'm no longer the centre of the universe. That the bad things people have done to me in the past don't matter anymore.

 

[pinkpetalbird666]

Are you vegan for your health or for ethical reasons?

 

[IndianVegan]

Are you vegan for your health or for ethical reasons?

Ethical reasons. It may actually be bad for my health by causing calcium deficiency.

 

[pinkpetalbird666]

Ethical reasons. It may actually be bad for my health by causing calcium deficiency.

You should get a blood test to find out for sure if you have a deficiency. Do you take a multivitamin?

 

[silva]

You should get a blood test to find out for sure if you have a deficiency. Do you take a multivitamin?

A blood test for calcium doesn't really reflect a deficiency, but rather tests for the calcium in your bloodstream to check for other conditions.

Calcium Blood Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test

A calcium test measures the level of calcium in your blood. Abnormal calcium levels may be a sign of bone disease or other medical conditions. Learn more.

medlineplus.gov

A bone density check- dexa scan- checks for the calcium within your bones

A plant based diet with a focus on calcium rich foods as well as exercise can be more beneficial than dairy
This is a good place to start-

calcium | Health Topics | NutritionFacts.org

nutritionfacts.org

We really become indoctrinated to our cultures usual diet and accept whatever it provides, good and bad.

 

[Lou]

You should get a blood test to find out for sure if you have a deficiency. Do you take a multivitamin?

multivitamins aren't big enough to contain significant calcium. Or for that matter any of the minerals we need.
they do make mineral supplements. Most of them are like three huge pills a day. And all the minerals can cause issues if you take too much.
So best bet is to get your calcium from REAL foods.
Some Soy milks and tofu have calcium added to them. And IMHO those are great sources.
Also almost all the dark leafy vegetables contain calcium. Spinach is one of the best.

instead of a blood test or bone density test you might consider investing the time in measuring your intake of nutrients.
Check out Cronometer . it's free and although it has a learning curve it's a great tool for health conscious people.

 

[IndianVegan]

You should get a blood test to find out for sure if you have a deficiency. Do you take a multivitamin?

I take Vitamin B12, Shelcal 500, and MGD3.

 

[silva]

One thing to watch for is the oxalite content of foods. Spinach is really high in calcium, but also oxalites, so you only absorb like 5% of it's calcium
I found this to be the best resource for how it lists all kinds of foods for their calcium content. I definitely need to pay attention

Top 20 Vegetables Highest in Calcium

Vegetables high in calcium include turnip greens, kale, mustard greens, beet greens, bok choy, okra, swiss chard, and broccoli raab. The DV (daily value) for calcium is 1300mg.

www.myfooddata.com

One thing that helped me is finding that just lightly microwaved greens is the quickest and easiest ways to for me to include them without having to 'plan' a meal
I also got sesame seeds to sprinkle on things. One tablespoon is great on salads, stir fries, noodles....and about 81 grams calcium. Little things all add up https://tools.myfooddata.com/nutrition-facts/339490/oz/1

 

[Lou]

I'm a big fan of soy milk. The silk brand is fortified with all the good things a vegan needs, including calcium. and it's highly absorbable. 2 glasses a day. or just one if you add some tofu to your meal plan.
Plus you get a lot of protein, and B12