Struggling To Call Myself Vegan

[Taranitar]

Struggling with whether I can even call myself vegan

I've been vegetarian for 5 years and reached a point where I'm eating an entirely vegan diet, but still take high EPA fish oil for mental health. I have severe mental health issues that are only recently under control and are essentially life and death, and I credit high EPA fish oil as being one of the most health-promoting supplements for it. I've been desperately researching algal oil as an alternative, but everything I've read makes it difficult.

I tried posting this on reddit because that seems to be the community that is extremely strict about what counts as vegan, and that being vegetarian isn't good enough, etc. but my posts get auto-removed by reddit and I can't figure out why, and this is bothering me alot so came here for advice.

I take a fish oil that is in a 2:1 ratio of EPA to DHA because many studies and doctors say that's the optimal ratio for mental health treatment as EPA is anti-inflammatory (and my anecdotal recovery backs this up). Most algal oils are in the opposite ratio, double the DHA to EPA, good for brain health but less anti-inflammatory. The only algal oil I found in a 2:1 EPA to DHA ratio was BrainMD Vegan Omega 3 Power. (won't link but it's on google)

But I'm Australian, and that'd cost $100+/month to buy. Almost 3-4x more expensive than equivalent fish oil. I'll be honest, I just can't afford this long term. The pessimist in me also believes that due to modern corporate greed, the price of this algal oil will never go down. If this were any other food choice I choose the vegan alternative, but not when it comes to my mental health. I firmly believe health comes before ethics, and settling for a potentially less effective cheaper supplement for this purpose could be deadly.

But this leaves me feeling so bad. Do I hurt myself financially or health-wise to adhere to a perfect "100% vegan" ideal, or do I accept being "99% vegan" and deal with social repercussions of "not vegan enough". If I'm doing it for the animals it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks, but like I said I've got alot of mental health issues, and definitely feel "not vegan enough" by the average vegans standards, if I keep taking fish oil. I feel like I'm in a lose-lose position.

Anyone have any reassurance, or know of cheaper algal supplements in a 2:1 EPA to DHA ratio? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Emma JC]

welcome to the forum - we are happy you are here

I can't advise on what oils you should take however if you have something dialed in that works for you and keeps you healthy in your body and your mind then you need to tell your soul to get onboard and enjoy your life. Please please do not worry about not being 'vegan enough', there is no such thing and as @Lou likes to remind us, "don't let perfection be the enemy of good".

It is no one else's business what you injest for your health and I applaud you for caring enough to ask and encourage you to carry on and be happy how many animals you are saving and how good for the environment your decisions are.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[silva]

@Taranitar I've been taking algae DHA/EPA for many years and find it helps my focus and attention span. I never knew the difference between DHA/EPA, the research I've seen just suggests that EPA is formulated from DHA. I've never seen supplements with higher EPA levels, in fact most are just DHA.
SInce you've had good results from what you've used, I strongly suggest you keep taking them. As time goes on you may find yourself in a better place to play around, but I wouldn't think of this as something keeping you from vegan qualifications. It isn't a contest-there are no vegan police .
There are many who insist on purity, but the reality is there are so many things to do that help animals and ethical standards without sacrificing your health
Years back I discovered, on my own, that I was deficient in vitamin D. I had debilitating pain in my feet and ankle bones, saw specialist, got scans. I found on line that my symptoms sounded like a deficiency so I insisted on a test for D. After a long supplementing of D3 (I had been taking D2) I got relief. I went years taking the typical D3 from lanolin up until recently when I switched to plant based D3. So far so good, but if my levels are going down when I test again I will go back.

You can;t help others if your not ok yourself! It's like when you're on an airplane and the oxygen bags drop they tell you the first thing you do is to put one on yourself, then help others

 

[Graeme M]

I can't comment on the benefits of DHA/EPA supplements for mental health but will assume you've done the research and are confident that's best for you and that fish oil rather than an algal oil is most suitable. However, something to bear in mind is that veganism is an ethics, and it's a *guide* as to what's best to do when our actions affect other animals. I don't believe there is anything in vegan ethical principles that says we should harm ourselves to be true to them - our own wellbeing and health comes first.

A vegan-friendly diet is the diet that best aligns with the principles of veganism while ensuring your own health and wellbeing and that diet can only be determined by you. It's no-one else's business. I'd also add that I don't believe it's that important to call yourself a vegan. Again, you are the person you have to satisfy, no-one else. So, if you feel that eating fish-based Omega three oil supplements is best for you then do so. And don't add worrying about your "vegan-ness" to your load.

 

[VegetableLiker]

Brother, you have the SPIRIT and the MIND-SET of a true-blooded vegan, so wear that title as a badge of HONOR!!!