[Fae Queen]

I've been depressed and irritable since giving up meat. My friend says it's Herxheimer reaction, a detox thing. It's driving me crazy! I have to TRY to be cheerful, and I'm normally a very upbeat person. How long does this last, and are there any foods I can eat that will cheer me up?

My friends says drink lots of water, so I'm doing that, but it's not getting better. Guess my system is pretty gunked up. I ate too much processed and junk food for too long. Getting healthy is making me sick! Who knew?

 

[jennyface]

How long have you been feeling this way? It is normal (at least in my experience-I can't speak for anyone else) to go through a short "detox"period of about a week or two when going vegetarian/cutting out processed foods/etc. Sometimes I even feel this way when coming back from vacation, when I am not cooking at home and eating as I usually do. If you've been feeling this way for longer than two or three weeks, there may be something else going on.

 

[Fae Queen]

It's only been a week or so. I guess I need to give it time. One friend suggested drinking the Master Cleanse lemonade instead of water, because it would clean the toxins out faster, so I guess I'll try that. I really did eat a lot of processed food. My thought was "Well, it's vegetables," but now I'm having to get all that toxic crap out of my system.

 

[*AHIMSA*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fae Queen

One friend suggested drinking the Master Cleanse lemonade instead of water, because it would clean the toxins out faster, so I guess I'll try that.

Drinking spicy lemonade will not have any magical effect on you and will likely only make you feel worse.

 

[swifty]

I didn't experience this personally, but a friend of mine went through something similar. She actually had to 'wean' out meat from her diet. She was told to do this because sometimes it can be hard on the body to get used to not having something in their system.. like a withdrawl. I'm sure it would be similar to someone who drank a lot of pop, suddenly stopped, and then in return got headaches until their body got used to not having it in their system. She had to eat meat a couple times a week, and then once a week, and then none. It was a long process, that was very hard for her to do, but her body reacted much better when she was finally on her vegetarian diet.

Do you eat the faux meats? like Morning Star and Boca (that's what we have available where I live). They helped me transition well because they still have a similar taste to meat. My body wasn't use to no meat, so I kind of think they played a trick on my body. Or maybe that is all in my head

Either way, they certainly helped the transition from eating meat majority of the week, to consuming absolutely no meat at all in one day's time.

I would give it another week or so, as long as you aren't in any physical pain. And think of all the animals you are saving.. that can put you in a happier mood!

 

[danakscully64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AHIMSA*

Drinking spicy lemonade will not have any magical effect on you and will likely only make you feel worse.

Definitely!

 

[danakscully64]

What are you currently eating? Are you getting enough Vitamin D (sunlight or diet wise)?

 

[Scorpius]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AHIMSA*

Drinking spicy lemonade will not have any magical effect on you and will likely only make you feel worse.

Yes.

Are you getting enough energy (calories) in the day since switching over from omni? If you're not eating enough, you're sure to get cranky and irritable.
I never experienced a marked "detox" affect when I went vegan.

 

[ocrob37]

I saw a documentary that said cashews help with depression. I did not notice a difference, but it is worth a try. Plus they are good.

 

[peacefulveglady]

I would pick up a B 12 pill formula that helps your moods, my dad had this a few years ago and recommended us to us it to boost our moods.

 

[ElaineV]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fae Queen

I've been depressed and irritable since giving up meat. My friend says it's Herxheimer reaction, a detox thing.

Some people do experience a sort of "detox" but many don't.
The more you ease into it slowly instead of dive right in, the fewer "detox symptons" you will feel. That said, there's definitely something to be said for simply quitting "cold turkey."

Take a look at the nutritional guidelines for vegetarians and vegans. Make sure you are getting enough total calories and make sure you're meeting all your nutritional requirements. Most likely, if you're feeling down so quickly it's probably simply a lack of enough total calories or it could be psychological. Either way, it definitely won't hurt to ensure proper health right now. As a side note, doing a cleanse right now is likely to make you feel more tired and more weak. Here are some simple guidelines:
http://pcrm.org/health/diets/pplate/power-plate
http://pcrm.org/health/diets/pplate/power-sources

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fae Queen

are there any foods I can eat that will cheer me up?

A combo of carbs and fat is sure to boost your mood so long as you don't overindulge. Think toast with peanut buttter, a banana with almond butter, pasta with cashews...

PS, this is interesting:

 

[disney.jessica]

Maybe it's just the huge change of becoming vegetarian? I went vegan from omnivore, and for the first two months I was very enthusiastic about it, and then all of a sudden I just sort of crashed and I felt a bit depressed, I just felt like I wish I could go back to being ignorant and not knowing what went on with dairy and eggs. I'm pretty sure it was just because I'd made a huge change in my life, I was getting pressure about it from friends and family, and I missed all my favorite foods that I ate every week, so I had drastically change my habits, my lifestyle, and the relationship with the people closest to me, and it just kind of hit me how much things had changed because of people's reactions and because of my complete abandoning of favorite meals, that I felt depressed, and I still do sometimes, since I'm only just under four months into veganism. You could be feeling a similar depression, possibly, about making the big change to vegetarianism in your life.

 

[affidavit]

Agreeing with everything but the comments on spicy lemonade. That stuff is damn good. I don't know what master cleanse is, but I used to drink sweet lemon/lime-ade with cayenne or chili powder, and ohmygosh.

 

[kasandra]

i think, if we could get an idea of what you eat now that could answer a lot of questions.

when i became vegetarian i felt awesome, but started losing a lot of weight and then also energy which left me drained and down.

you will have to educate yourself on what foods lift your mood and trying to get in everything your body needs.

I drink a Vitb complex tablet every day as this does help with moods.

Cutting out caffeine, booze and sugar and replacing with herbal teas, green smoothies and eating fruit.

Cutting out prosessed and refined foods as far as possible.

Things I eat daily to lift my mood.
Bananas, Nuts, Grains, A Nice Berry Smoothie with Soya Protein (fresh berries), Spinach, Beans

I think its hard in the beginning learning how to eat more and get the same "full" feeling meat gave you.

Good luck.

Keep posting here the peeps really give good advice. Help me a lot in the beginning.

 

[smiling]

I've never heard of being cranky from not eating meat. I have heard, however of getting that way from cutting way back on sugar. I actually experienced myself when cutting back on sugar and high carb foods. Those are a very easy energy source for your body. When you cut those foods back, your body has to get energy through more complicated means. It also changes the amount of insulin that is released since high sugars and carbs =more insulin. B/c of the effects of these foods, you are going to feel cruddy for a couple of weeks until your body adjusts. It isn't as much that it is flushing out toxins. It is more that you are fueling your body differently and it has to adjust.

 

[mollycakes]

I would agree with everyone else but throw in the suggestion of adding a bit more exercise. I was feeling an energy slump since going vegan a month ago
I started getting up early and going to the gym for 45 min each day and now I don't feel too much a drop in my energy level in the afternoon like I was (I was like, comatose!) I was also getting super dizzy.
I'm also planning on cutting down on coffee and adding yoga in there somewhere, I used to do it every day before I had my 2 kids. I always felt full of energy before when I was doing that.

 

[*AHIMSA*]

Well, you can't really agree or disagree with something you aren't at all familiar with then, can you?

Perhaps you'd see what we mean when you realize that you'd be going without eating and drinking nothing BUT that spicy lemonade for 10 days, with the exception of salt water and a laxative tea.

Master Cleanse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Cleanse
Master Cleanse is a modified juice fast that permits no food. There are three parts to it. First thing each morning one drinks a quart of water with 2 teaspoons of salt or a cup of herbal laxative tea. This is followed by six to twelve lemonade drinks during the day and a cup of herbal laxative tea in the evening. The lemonade is made from purified or spring water, fresh squeezed lemon juice, organic maple syrup and cayenne pepper. The alleged purpose is to "detoxify" the body and remove excess fat. It is done for a minimum of ten days
Quote:

Originally Posted by affidavit

Agreeing with everything but the comments on spicy lemonade. That stuff is damn good. I don't know what master cleanse is, but I used to drink sweet lemon/lime-ade with cayenne or chili powder, and ohmygosh.

 

[smiling]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *AHIMSA*

Well, you can't really agree or disagree with something you aren't at all familiar with then, can you?

Perhaps you'd see what we mean when you realize that you'd be going without eating and drinking nothing BUT that spicy lemonade for 10 days, with the exception of salt water and a laxative tea.

Master Cleanse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Cleanse
Master Cleanse is a modified juice fast that permits no food. There are three parts to it. First thing each morning one drinks a quart of water with 2 teaspoons of salt or a cup of herbal laxative tea. This is followed by six to twelve lemonade drinks during the day and a cup of herbal laxative tea in the evening. The lemonade is made from purified or spring water, fresh squeezed lemon juice, organic maple syrup and cayenne pepper. The alleged purpose is to "detoxify" the body and remove excess fat. It is done for a minimum of ten days

You are so right. Not eating is never a good thing. Any diet that tells you to do that is bunk. And, you don't need to fast or drink a weird drink to cleanse your body. Your body has a set of kidneys, a liver, and very sophisticated digestive tract full of good bacteria that does that for you. Cleanses can also get rid of the beneficial bacteria colonies in your gut and dehydrate you (despite drinking lots of liquid). There is nothing weird or so toxic (in a normal diet) that your body can't handle.

 

[dormouse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiling

You are so right. Not eating is never a good thing. Any diet that tells you to do that is bunk. And, you don't need to fast or drink a weird drink to cleanse your body. Your body has a set of kidneys, a liver, and very sophisticated digestive tract full of good bacteria that does that for you. Cleanses can also get rid of the beneficial bacteria colonies in your gut and dehydrate you (despite drinking lots of liquid). There is nothing weird or so toxic (in a normal diet) that your body can't handle.

Not to mention that I think the OP's problem is probably lack of energy due to lack of calories. OP, make sure you are eating enough!

 

[silva]

Well, you can't really agree or disagree with something you aren't at all familiar with then, can you?

Perhaps you'd see what we mean when you realize that you'd be going without eating and drinking nothing BUT that spicy lemonade for 10 days, with the exception of salt water and a laxative tea.

Master Cleanse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Cleanse

Ooooh! I don't think anyone felt she meant GO on the master cleanse, but just drink the spicy lemonade with everything else eaten! Yeah, the cleanse part -no.

How about posting a sample days meals?

What are your reasons for wanting to be veg*n?