We all know the USDA Food Pyramid is flawed conventional “wisdom” but what about the Vegan Food Pyramid? Can there be anything worse for your health than being a vegan?
Answer: Yes, being a low-fat vegan!
All joking aside, for today’s post I would like to share a true story from one of my clients. We are still shaking our heads in disbelief that this conversation with a “physician” actually took place. Let’s meet Jane and get a little background on her….
My name is Jane and I met Paula in Sept. 2008 for an initial fitness assessment. I was 50 years old, had some health issues and was unhappy with my current fitness/nutritional regime. Here’s how the health problems began…
In 2004 with no health problems but at the urging of my then trainer, I went to a vegan diet. She showed me a movie on The Rave Diet which extolled the benefits of a plant-based diet and came with a video showing helpless chickens getting their beaks cut off and crippled from being cramped in cages. It also showed sick cattle feeding off of manure and other animal byproducts along with steroid infested turkeys toppling over because their breasts were so big they couldn’t walk. Being an animal lover I took all this animal abuse to heart.
I immediately pulled a 360 and took all animal products out of my diet including eggs and dairy. I was about 125 pounds of healthy muscle and 17% body fat. I felt great and had no health issues. I was very defined and enjoyed a healthy exercise routine of weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise. After switching to the vegan lifestyle I immediately lost about 5 to 7 pounds and looked absolutely shredded.
Wow, I thought, this is great! But then, the weight kept coming off and my beautiful muscle started disappearing. I looked soft and skinny fat. I started freaking out a little but stayed on the path because of how “healthy” it was. After about 3 months I just couldn’t stand it anymore and I added fish only back in but still no eggs/dairy or shellfish. I felt a little better although the food was not enjoyable anymore and I used to love to eat. I was hungry after every meal no matter how much rice, beans, bread, and vegetables I included with the bland white fish or better yet hydrolyzed soy products.
I added very little oil/fat to anything. Just a little olive oil on my salads and vegetables; tofu was delicious, right–even though my husband refused to eat it? After all, those animal fats would clog my arteries and kill me.
After about 6 to 9 months I noticed I didn’t have quite the energy I used to when working out, I was very irritable and easily angered, I didn’t sleep well at night, was cold all the time and I had intermittent bouts of depression. Being 50 years old I blamed it on hormones and going through the change.
Fast forward to 2008 and my health had drastically deteriorated over those 4 years. On a side note, isn’t it interesting how pro-plant based diet propaganda films like What The Health never seem to cover these types of cases!
My last physical and blood work showed thyroid dysfunction but not enough to warrant treatment, low iron levels, positive response for autoimmune issues, borderline high blood sugar but a very “healthy” cholesterol level of 155. I sought the help of a holistic/conventional MD and immediately took to him. He made a few suggestions on supplements I could take but did not even ask me about my diet.
Around the same time, I met Paula and switched to her for training. In desperation, I listened to her complete opposite advice on what to eat. Always an all or nothing girl I did a 360 again and switched to a Primal and traditional foods diet. I threw out my grains, my soy, beans and bought myself a piece of buffalo meat, cooked it in butter and ate it. OMG, I had never tasted anything so good. I slept like a log that night, I felt satisfied and “happy” for the first time in years. For a solid week I had buffalo meat at least 2x a day and lots of butter on everything, I literally craved it. The extreme cravings eventually subsided. My muscles started coming back. I followed this diet very strictly for at least 1 ½ years before putting anything “un-Primal” back in on occasion. Yearly blood work kept improving. After 2 years the autoimmune issues were resolved. I felt great–slept soundly, had endless energy, zero depression/anger and was the happiest I had ever been in my life. So I was very surprised when I went in last week to get the results of my yearly blood work…
While waiting to see the doctor the nurse had given me a copy. As I looked over it I said to myself this is the best it has ever been and I was very excited–I couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say about it.
He reviewed almost each and every marker with me in detail. ANA screen negative, iron levels ideal, Hemo A1C within range, fasting blood glucose 77, CRP .2, vitamin D levels were way up, thyroid in ideal ranges, not one marker was out of “normal” range except for my cholesterol. Total 239: HDL 118, LDL 112, TRI’s 47. I thought it looked pretty darn good.
The conversation with the doctor went like this (any of this sound familiar?) . . .
“Well, we need to do something to get your cholesterol down”.
What’s wrong with my cholesterol?
“It’s too high”.
But that’s because of the high HDL, the total ratio is well below the range limit.
“Yes, but HDL that high is not good, it could be indicative of neurotoxicity, we want to lower it”
But my tri’s are low–wouldn’t that be indicative of low inflammation.
“Yes, but they are a little too low.”
Huh? I thought.
“And your LDL is too high.”
But they could be big fluffy particles.
“Yes, we did not test for that; we might do that in the future”.
And my CRP is below .2, isn’t that indicative of low risk, low inflammation?
“Yes, but your cholesterol is too high. What I would recommend to prevent heart disease–which is a 360 from what you have been doing–but you really should give it a try, is a low-fat vegan diet with less than 10% of your calories from fat. Numerous studies from Dean Ornish show. . . blah, blah, blah.”
But Doc that is what made me sick in the first place! And Dean Ornish sells himself for grant money plus he’s chubby.
“Well, if you aren’t willing to do that take some fish oil capsules that we sell here.”
But I eat egg yolks every day, liver once a week and make stock from fish heads and carcasses.
“Yes, well we also have a protein powder that will lower your cholesterol.”
Hmmm, powdered peas, no thanks. And thank you for your advice doc but I believe it’s time to go home and start dinner. . . grass fed ribeye cooked in raw butter with a nice big helping of veggies cooked in lard freshly rendered from my happy pastured pigs!
Thank you, Jane, you have learned your lessons well. But a low-fat vegan diet?? Nah, long live saturated fat and our healthy hearts!
If you write for everyone, you write for no one.
No way of eating is the perfect way, including that of this site. All food philosophies and practices –vegetarian, vegan, raw, Ayurvedic, lacto-ovo, etc.–have their value depending on the person engaged in it, body type, medical history, interaction with prescription drugs, level of stress, etc. I don’t like that you chose an article that dissed vegetarians or vegetarianism. Nor would I like an article that dissed raw foodies or people who don’t consume pork products for religious reasons. For those on a meat-heavy, cream-heavy diet, with little or no daily exercise, you may find yourself with some serious health problems in your future. On a positive note, this has been the last straw and I’ve decided to delete myself from this blog! Thanks!
No one is encouraging a meat/cream heavy diet with “little or no daily exercise”. If one is sedentary i.e. not moving on a regular basis caloric requirements would be decreased.
It is SO important to note EVERYONE is different. We are NOT a one diet fits all population. No way!
I have been a die hard REAL foodie for a few years now. Lots of GOOD fat, meat, eggs, organic fruits and veggeis. Yet, my autoimmune issues we NOT subsiding, I have HORRIBLE acne, and high cholesterl (although that one is my least concern). I am still super inflammed, not absorbing or digesting despite this “diet”.
IF I injest RAW dairy, with a short amount of time, I will begin to tremor, and puke for about 12-14 hours. (that also includes wheat or any fake food) Needless to say, it has been OUT of my diet for a while now. I was tired of “trying” this healthy food and having such severe reactions.
Sooo, here is the KICKER! Despite ALL I believed to be true about diets, vegans etc.. I decided to eliminate ALL animal based products. Guess what, first thing I noticed? My acne clearing up! I could not beleive that since I have suffered with acne my whole life! Next, was the insane amount of energy! I dont understand this, again, based on what I know and believe, but OMG ITS WORKING! My spinal pain subsided too!
Sara I woudl love to hear what you think. I have followed your blog forever and love it but I had to speak up due to the recent successful changes I have made in my diet.
Maybe some of us are just too sick to handle the animal products? Who knows. I am sticking with this plan for 30 days and monitoring how I feel.
Thanks
Jeni Clark~
Jenni, autoimmune conditions stem from gut damage. It’s not the animal products’ fault. Go on the GAPS diet, heal your gut, and your reactions from more difficult to digest foods (such as dairy with lactose intact) will be eliminated. Then eventually, you’ll be able to eat all real food again. Veganism is cleansing — temporarily — not nourishing. You absolutely will get sick again if you continue what you’re doing.
Emily, excellent explanation.
Emily, I have done GAPS hard core for one and a half years when people didnt even hear of GAPS then–now its everywhere as the “new” healing diet)! I did it, including intro. Did NOT work for me. My best friend is GAPS certified! I mean, not sure how much longer I could do it without seeing results. I am missing something!? There is plenty of evidence that meat causes inflammation in a damaged gut so for now it has to be cut! My gut is damaged and GAPS diet did not work. I also could not digest the animal fat. Ever. No matter how many GAPS recommended supplements I took etc..
Funny timing–just received my wellness screening results in the mail today (for insurance purposes) and surprise, surprise, my total cholesterol and my LDL levels were above the optimal range. 265 and 157, respectively, I believe. This, after more or less trying to follow the WAPF diet for pregnant/nursing mothers (especially the eggs and butter part!) Curious what I’ll hear at the next doctor’s appointment…
I had always been told doctors will not check cholestrol while a mother is pregnant/nursing because the womens cholesterol naturally rises during this time. Mom’s body knows best to up the cholesterol for the baby:)
Yes! My doctor told me this recently – no cholesterol check until 6 months after the baby is done nursing.
Love this article. I was a victim of the low fat, high carb myth until my hair started falling out and my skin was so dry. I just turned the pyramid upside down and feel so much better and my face looks healthy again. I just got asked for my I.D. today to prove I was a senior. My blood pressure is back to 120/70 and my cholesterol is 189. ah life is good again. Thanks Sarah or all you do.
YES!
upstate new york!! love it.. vermont is where our heart is.. try farmers markets.. we buy everything direct from our farmers.. you really get a chance to know them and how they are raising the animals.. also, you wont be paying any mark up because you are buying direct..
once very unhappy skinny fat vegans.. now happy lard, tallo, butter, meat eaters..
-jason and lisa-
here in Rochester, NY. , we have were voted #1 farmers market in the country year. just last week i went earlier than normal (730AM; i like to hit it up when they are about to close, great deals then 🙂 ) and i was surprised to find Buffalo & ostrich meat! i think its time i start expanding my meat horizons!
Fitness Editor Paula Jager shares a reformed vegetarians journey to health via The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/jZBHPZoN
High cholesterol in women is a good thing. It means you’ll live longer. The overall mortality rate as well as heart disease rate goes down in women. I hate it when the medical establishment tries to apply standards for men, middle aged men, on women, like we’re physically the same. Ugh.
agree jana.. im 28 now and was a bartender for years.. one of my “regs” was a mid 60’s woman who… well.. she was hot… great shape, sharp brain.. one day she came in telling me about a dr. visit where she was told she needed statins because her cholesterol was too high and although she was beaming with overall health (and good looks), she really needed to be worried. long story short, she laughed, left the doc and came up to the bar for a few drinks..
cheers,
-jason and lisa-
i so loved this article. amazing, and the bit about the Dr. trying to push products on the Patient….shameful.
I do have a question; how often should i try to include meats into my diet? currently i eat, as i would say, healthy. mostly, fruits, vegs and leafy greens. (i am a sucker for my breakfast potatoes on days off though…) fish a few times a month and meat a few Less times a month than that. this is mostly because i will only eat the organic, grass fed meat and it is pricey up here (Upstate NY). thanks and love the site.
I can’t speak for Sarah, but I would suggest eating meat as often as you’d like. Why punish yourself? It’s what we are meant to eat.
thanks Octavian! i do so love grass fed beef cooked slowly with wood chips….simple pleasures i guess.
I agree with Octavian. I eat 3 to 5 times a day and usually at least 3 meals contain meat, fish or fowl.
Good quality eggs from a local farm that raises pastured chickens are an excellent, nutrient-rich animal protein source that is very inexpensive. I can get a dozen eggs for $2 here in FL, and the yolks are a beautiful deep orange, indicative of a very high vitamin A content and wonderful overall nutritional quality.
Thank you! So many of my friends and students have been told (and unfortunately believe) that a soy-based vegetarian or vegan diet is the ultimate in health! Gah! And they wonder why they can’t lose their big tummies and feel crappy all the time. I’m also a huge advocate of the short-burst, high-intensity training that Paula advocates. Along with a traditional diet, it’s transformative in so many ways.
I think it is the way you eat. I am a vegetarian and eat healthy fats. I don’t eat soy except tempeh. I think the article goes to show that you can eat unhealthy on any diet. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables should be key to any diet.
The key to my diet is plenty of bacon, ham, steak, roasts, butter, yoghurt, cream, eggs, cheese, fish, and some fruit and vegetables (not much though). I haven’t felt better in years, and I don’t dread eating cellulose that we weren’t meant to digest.
I have to say that if the basis of my diet was fruit and veggies, I would be on some sort of mood stabilizing drug because I would be a real piece of work to live with. The basis of my diet is animal fats – approximately 50% in the form of eggs, cheese, fatty grassfed meats, and full fat dairy.
Tempeh is fine since it is fermented soy. Plenty of vegetables, some fruit and a quality protein source be it land, sea or air are also essential.
and yes, my veggies are bathed in butter, lard or tallow–yummy. Like Sarah said, keeps me “nice”. My diet is 50-60% fat depending on the seasons and my training.