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Side Affects of Veganism
Started
by Bobbie
on February 13, 2013
Heyhey!
My name is Bobbie and I am a new vegan - I am so happy to know that how I eat is not contributing to cruelty or the harm of another living creature. :) I have been a full vegan for about two weeks now and although I am feeling lighter and healthier, I am having headaches most days. Is this normal? Is my body just adjusting to the new diet? I am eating well, getting proteins, whole-grains, minerals and carbs (good ones!) and am drinking plenty of water... Has anybody else experienced this?
Thanks. :)
I had headaches at first too, so I took some aspirin on occassion. Think of it as your body is detoxing from all the years of bad food you were putting into it. It is almost like withdrawing from an addiction (speaking only from the experience of being a former smoker and coffee-addict). Since we get so used to these things, our bodies rebel and want them to function how they are used to functioning. It takes time for your body to switch gears and get used to being healthy, crazy as it sounds. :) When I switched to vegan, I pretty much went cold turkey (no pun intended) and I felt very lathargic, had headaches, nausea. But after a few weeks, I felt really good all the time. And now, even when I eat vegan junk food, I can tell how heavy and yucky I feel (french fries are my weakness). Good luck and congrats to switching to veg!!
Bobbie, a couple things, yes headaches can go with detox. But I'd also ask yourself if you've added anything IN to your diet while taking the animal products away. Sometimes we add something in to supplement the meat or dairy we gave up and the new food could have an ingredient that your body doesn't like. Example would be some ingredients in processed faux meat products. If you don't see your headaches improve, maybe keep a food journal and look for a trigger.
Thanks guys. The headaches have now improved and I am feeling much better! :)
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