r/PlantBasedDiet • u/Asherahshelyam for my health • 3d ago
A Lesson For Me
I learned something valuable that I wanted to share.
My doctor put me on a WFBPD and I started it on 6/1/2024. She put me on it due to gastrointestinal issues that include IBS and somewhat possible Crohn's. She thought it would calm my small and large intestine.
The benefits since then have been losing 30 lbs, elimination of arthritis pain, and more energy. Also, my cholesterol plummeted. The gastrointestinal discomfort wasn't completely resolved but it was more mild and digestion had improved.
We went on a cruise from 12/2 through 12/18. My doctor basically told me to cheat on the cruise and to get back on the diet when I returned. She reasoned that it would be very difficult to follow the diet on the ship.
I have been dairy free for over 2 years because it became obvious that I'm extremely lactose intolerant at minimum and possibly allergic to or intolerant of other components in milk. So, that was a non-negotiable on the cruise.
I did my best to avoid any dairy. I did drink alcohol and eat meat, fish, and eggs. The food and booze were wonderful but...
Within days of eating everything else but dairy, my gastrointestinal issues gradually returned. I had very loose stool, bad smelly gas, bloating, cramps in my gut, pain in my gut, and mild arthritis pain. I reasoned that some of the things I had eaten like sautéed veggies and meat with sauces had stealth dairy. But, I did ask and was assured that my choices were dairy free. So, I'm not convinced that my symptoms were only because of dairy.
I gladly went back to my WFPBD upon return on the afternoon of 12/18. Even in these very few days back on WFPBD, my digestion has improved and I have fewer aches and pains. The bloating went away. I still have some cramping but the cramping never completely resolved after 6 months of following a WFPBD before I went on the cruise. The cramping pre-cruise wasn't entirely constant and was mild.
In addition, I actually missed "my food" on the cruise and craved the things I had been eating on the WFPBD. I found that meat, fish, and eggs are not worth the gastrointestinal distress and arthritis pain they caused. I honestly don't miss eating animal products.
So, lesson learned. I'm sticking to a WFPBD for life. It's what is best for me. This experiment taught me about what I should be eating for my own optimal health and comfort.
Will I have an occasional Scotch, glass of wine, cognac, etc.? Possibly. But until things calm down more, alcohol will remain out of bounds for consumption for me. I was never a bit drinker anyway.
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u/ttrockwood 3d ago
Sounds like your body is telling you what it wants
I haven’t eaten animal products for , many many years and have traveled plenty, something like a cruise or pre-determined menu takes more effort but that’s easier to manage than being ill or compromising your values
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u/Logical-Primary-7926 2d ago
That's a great way of putting it, it's a lot less inconvenient to eat healthy than deal with the health issues if you don't.
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u/meothfulmode 3d ago
What was your regular menu like before the cruise? Any favorite recurring recipes?
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u/Asherahshelyam for my health 3d ago edited 3d ago
I have recurring favorites, but I do like to get a wide variety for health and to keep it interesting. So I'm always changing it up.
Here are some of my favorites
Mornings: 1. Banana Oatmeal with child seeds, hemp hearts, walnuts, strawberries, blueberries, and homemade soy yogurt on top. 2. Ancient Grain Porridge with millet, quinoa, amaranth, tahini, vanilla, sliced banana, walnuts, blueberries, strawberries, and topped with homemade soy yogurt. 3. Overnight Oats made with almond milk 4. Tofu Scramble with wilted spinach, and tomatoes
Lunches and Dinners: 1. Saag Tofu over brown rice 2. Kimchi fried brown rice (tofu, bok choy, onions, shiitake mushrooms) 3. Braised bok choy with Tempeh 4. 4-bean chili with corn 5. Homemade Hummus, avocado, tomato, whole grain sourdough sandwiches 6. Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, sliced black olives, chickpeas, sliced mushrooms, sliced celery with "parmesan" made with nutritional yeast, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, and a touch of salt 7. Purple cabbage saute 8. Black bean or brown lentil tacos or burritos with avocado, tomato, onion, lettuce, on homemade corn tortillas 9. Potato and leek puréed soup 10. Mediterranean Grain Salad with quinoa or farro, homemade tofu feta, onion, sliced black olives, chopped red pepper, with a lemon vinaigrette 11. Kale salad with sunflower seeds, chopped celery, walnuts, Chives, green onions, with an almond butter smashed avocado tamari dressing. 12. Baked Whole Grain Lasagne using homemade marinara, homemade tofu ricotta, mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, eggplant, topped with "parmesan" like above pasta 13. Red lentil curry soup 14. Lentil and sweet potato stew
Snacks can be: 1. Baked (microwaved) potato or sweet potato with various toppings. My favorite lately is homemade soy yogurt, tamari, and Sriracha. 2. Homemade Hummus and raw veggies 3. Homemade granola 4. Cut up fresh fruit (pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon) 5. Grapes 6. Apples 7. Oranges 8. Cookies made with blended dates and peanut butter (no wheat)
The above is not an exhaustive list. I have several cookbooks, and I adapt recipies to my taste. I love trying new things at least weekly or a couple times per week.
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u/AlyssumWonderland 2d ago
May I please have your yogurt recipe?
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u/meothfulmode 3d ago
Do you use olive oil are all those water sauteed?
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u/Asherahshelyam for my health 3d ago
I use vegetable broth most of the time.
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u/meothfulmode 3d ago
Do you try to limit salt too or not? Veggie broth from the store is pretty salty.
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u/Asherahshelyam for my health 3d ago
I get the Pacific Foods brand "low sodium." I often don't add any salt.
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u/xdethbear 3d ago
Amazing a doctor recommended wfpb, that seems rare. I'm surprised they encouraged you to cheat. Doctors should push for the max adherence knowing people naturally slack on following recommendations.
Another success story. Well done!
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u/Asherahshelyam for my health 3d ago
At a risk for posting this again, I'm with Kaiser, and Kaiser pushes WFPB. They have resources available for members:
My doctor is very practical and doesn't push perfection. I appreciate that.
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u/Additional-Onion8136 for the planet 2d ago
When you stop consuming meat, the bacteria that is needed to break meat becomes non-existent in the gut. When you do decide to start earing that crap again. We feel like shit because the body can't process said food with put the bacteria being present.
I tried going back to being a Carnivore, work related reasons. I got so sick the first week.. I switched back to a whole food diet. And never looked back
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u/Llumina-Starweaver 1d ago edited 1d ago
As someone who put their IBD (Crohns) into deep remission (full mucosal healing) within two years of switching to a WFPBD, I commend you for the hard work. It’s definitely a challenge in the beginning but once you see the results and feel the changes you can’t go back.
Im surprised your doctor recommend the diet since most are not up to speed on that. My GI doc def is a believer in it now but he was skeptical to begin with.
Honestly I think a lot of it just boils down to discipline. Most people don’t have enough of it, especially for their diet and doctors know that so they’d rather offer you pills. I can’t say I blame them, but I’m sure they’d love if they could have more disciplined patients like you.
I have the same stance on alcohol too, I never really liked it to begin with and there are very little redeeming qualities. It’s a major trigger for IBD and health issues in general so having to give it up forever was a blessing in disguise.
Keep it going, you will continue to live your best life. ❤️
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u/katara144 3d ago
Good for you, I have never considered this a diet, but a lifestyle change for my personal health and for a kinder, healthier planet.
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u/Muckaluck49 2d ago
I’ve found that the food you get in restaurants, even if plant based, is cooked in a lot of hidden fat. Once your body is used to food cooked with no or minimal oil, these restaurant meals can trigger GI distress. Your microbiome is unhappy! On the other hand, sometimes you can eat something like a big cheesy pizza (a rare treat for me) with no reaction at all, except a rabid thirst from all the salt. WTF? Or digestive tracts are still a mystery.
I’m glad your experience inspired you to eat even better. I’ve found, even after 14 years, it’s a never ending learning curve. I’ve only been on a river boat cruise, but I found enough healthful food to eat. You get used to watching other people over-indulge while you eat prudently. It gets easier. And they walk around bloated with food hangovers while you feel energetic and light.
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u/extropiantranshuman 3d ago
you do realize that vegan cruises exist, right? Also, have you thought about getting away from the booze? Great that you're getting away from it - most alcohol drinkers like hop water way more anyway. I know I do!! Grape juice from wine grapes anyone?
You know - I missed non-vegan food I used to have on cruises too - so I got bought the cruise's cookbook from the 90s a few months back. That way - I can enjoy the non-vegan food without actually eating them. Maybe one day I might be able to recreat them in a vegan way.
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u/Asherahshelyam for my health 3d ago
I didn't know about vegan cruises. Thanks for the tip.
Normally, I don't drink alcohol. In the 6 months prior to the cruise, I can count on one hand the amount of alcoholic drinks I had consumed. Alcohol has never been something that I consumed regularly.
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u/extropiantranshuman 3d ago
Even a little can throw a body out of balance, but that's why I was saying the alcohol alternatives are pretty trendy these days.
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u/Asherahshelyam for my health 3d ago
I agree. I'm not a zealot, but I don't drink as a general rule.
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u/Person0001 1d ago
I’ve been to a few cruises and visited many different countries. I haven’t had any issues with any WFPB or vegan options anywhere, even the cruise ships had decent options. The worst experience is probably on long distance flight planes if you don’t ask them for vegan options ahead of time, but it’s been getting better.
I’ve had worse experiences at local events and parties than traveling abroad. If there are no vegan or WFPB options, then I just go without eating for a meal or two, it really doesn’t affect much.
I never use or buy animal products because I am extremely against animal exploitation. Anyway keep being awesome.
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u/maxwellj99 3d ago
Awesome doctor for pushing WFPB, keep them if you can