I've been vegan going on 12 years (vegetarian for many years before that), and I can honestly say I feel tons better on a plant-based diet, in both mind and body. Unbeknownst to me, I was likely lactose intolerant, so when I ditched dairy, a lot of my stomach/digestive issues disappeared. I'm 57 and exercise regularly and maintain a normal weight. Hiking/walking is my main form of exercise. I try to do weight-bearing exercises as well, but I confess to being a cardio junkie. I try to eat whole foods most of the time (I make my own seitan and other forms of protein), but I have my processed-food vices like most people (vegan cheese, etc). Moderation has always been the key for me. I keep tabs on the refined carbs and sugar. When I eat less of those, I feel better and have way more energy. The only supplement I take is B12 and maybe D in the winter, as we don't get a lot sun in my neck of the woods in the U.S. (New England). I eat a lot of vegetables, especially green leafy ones. I love them all, and I think they are full of nutritional goodness. I also eat a lot of legumes, grains and fruit, though I limit the latter to a serving or two a day. My body doesn't like a lot of fruit at once.
Aging is a challenge, I won't lie. I have more aches and pains than I did when I was younger, which I chalk up to my being 57. I had to give up running because it bothered my hip/thigh. I gave up bowling because I had awful tendinitis in my elbow. So one simply has to adjust and find something else to replace other activities that age might not let one do. Sometimes I can't work out six days a week because I've tweaked my back or my bum knee acts up. I just wait until that discomfort subsides and get back at it. I think keeping active is very important not only for physical health but also for mental health. Exercise is a big stress-reliever for me. I keep doing all of this so that I can continue doing the activities I enjoy, like hiking and cycling. Losing muscle mass and strength and gaining weight without changing a thing in your diet are consequences of aging. It's why athletes have to retire when they reach a certain age because their performance naturally declines with age. I've read that after age 45, one can gain 5 pounds a year without changing a thing in his or her diet or exercise regimen. Also, the body changes as we age. I've noticed my weight has shifted around and I've gotten thicker in the middle even though my weight hasn't changed all that much.
I started out as a health-based vegetarian, but learning about the atrocities of the dairy and egg industries made me much more aware of the horrors suffered by animals just so humans can please their tastebuds. For me, it's now all about the animals, and it has been for a while. I feel lighter in mind, body and spirit. Health benefits are a bonus. I could not imagine having to go back to eating animals. It would crush my spirit big-time.
With regard to your health issues, diet is not a cure-all. I've known both veg*ns and non-veg*ans who've suffered from cancer, diabetes and other diseases/conditions. What a healthy diet does do is perhaps help reduce the risk of getting these diseases.
There are other lifestyle and environmental issues out of our control that can contribute to ill health. I don't want to sound preachy, but having a daily beer plus wine on the weekends would be considered overindulging by many health professionals. (Mind you, I love a beer or two or a glass of wine as well). Your hypertension might improve by reducing the alcohol intake. My dad has high blood pressure and gave up drinking years ago. He also watches his salt intake and eats close to a WFPB diet but still has to take medication. However, his dosage is on the lower end and he figures it's because he does try to pay attention to his diet. He is 83 and walks a mile or two every day. The bottom line is we have to work harder to maintain good health as we age.
I don't want to be too nosy about your digestive issues, but if it's heartburn or the like, you could reduce your intake of acidic and spicy foods (citrus, tomato-based foods, hot sauce, peppers, onions, garlic etc.) to see whether that helps. Also, reducing caffeine and alcohol can help with that. Beer can cause indigestion for sure. Have you also considered that you might have an allergy or a bad reaction to certain foods? It may be that the source of your discomfort is just one or two foods. For instance, for some reason, green peppers had been giving me problems a while back. I used to eat a ton of them, but I've cut way back and now I can have them occasionally and not suffer any ill effects. Our bodies can change over time and foods that once were OK can become problems as we age. My mother (she is 77) had to give up red wine because it made her heart race. She now drinks white wine instead, and it's fine for her.
If you are having inflammation issues, information abounds about foods to avoid to help control/reduce it. My mom has had this issue and has greatly reduced her dairy intake, and she has noticed some improvement. Some people reduce gluten and find that it helps with inflammation (this is the case for one of my friends). You might have to do a little work to determine what you might need to do to improve your digestive issues. I honestly find it difficult to believe that going back to meat and eggs would improve digestion, as meat is generally one of the most difficult things to digest.
