Vegan, Vegetarian or what? My Quest for the Perfect Diet!
As a young girl growing up I reveled in the fact that I could eat anything without gaining weight. Never once did I consider that the foods I was consuming was contributing to my mood disorder, exhaustion, inflammation and immune system malfunction. I'd delightfully gorge on cookies, potato chips, pizza and all types of fast food without a care in the world. I developed a coffee addiction in high school. In college I drank alcohol and soda. I smoked cigarettes and marijuana among other things. Then one day I ended up in the hospital with a bad case of gastritis! I was told no more coffee, alcohol, cigarettes and chocolate! What was a sick girl to do? I ended up on all types of medications until I finally had enough and quit them all. My first step towards healing myself was drinking fruit shakes with protein, spirulina and other healthy powders that I really knew nothing about at the time. But it was a start! I somehow miraculously managed to quit alcohol, coffee, soda, cigarettes and marijuana. However that was not enough.
It took a while but eventually I quit all fast food. Then I was on a vegetarian diet for 2 months, however it didn't work out well. I lost all my energy and could barely get out of bed. So back to meat again! Then I decided to only eat organic. Then in December of 2012, after having some very unique spiritual encounters, I decided yet again to try the vegetarian diet, but this time it would be different. My motivation was beyond anything I had experienced before. In January of 2013 I started my vegetarian diet. By March everything was gluten free and by April I was on a completely vegan diet, however I was still eating processed frozen foods. It wasn't until 2014 that I tried a raw vegan diet...for a whole 7 months! The first few weeks were miraculous! I felt so alive! I wrote a whole spiritual poetry book in 6 weeks on the raw vegan diet: “A Lover in the Land of Hell!” But it was all downhill after that. I started experiencing all types of weird things. Ringing in the ears, jumpiness, anxiety, hauntings... Something was terribly wrong!
I went to the doctor and found out that I was B12 deficient even though I had been taking loads of B12 supplements just to ensure that that wouldn't happen. Turns out I was taking the wrong B12 supplement! I figured this out because I tested positive for the MTHFR gene mutation. This mutation, which is prevalent in a large percentage of the population, means that one cannot consume synthetic B12 (cyanocobalamin) or synthetic folate (folic acid). Interesting how most processed foods have folic acid added to them huh? I also tested positive for a hormone imbalance and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). I can go on and on about all the doctors I went to see (almost 20 now).
I ended up going back to meat again, but this time it would be different...all organic and non-processed...and smaller portions of meat! No dairy and limited eggs. I actually had a nutritionist tell me that I have sensitivities to egg yolks. I think she may have been right. Every so often when I eat eggs I start sneezing. Some type of immune system reaction I'm sure! My most recent Korean acupuncturist just told me no chicken or turkey (beef or bison)! Wow! He said to only eat pork, fish or duck. This is due to my current health conditions. He tells me I have too much heat (a yin deficiency according to what I've been reading online). I don't think he personally has anything against chicken, turkey, bison or beef. Well, I don't eat pork at all, and I try to stay away from fish due to heavy metal toxicity and radiation. I ended up cooking my first duck legs the other day. Not bad! If it were up to me, I would be a vegan. I do not wish to hurt the animals. But unfortunately right now my health issues will not allow for this. I've been told by so many people to eat for my blood type. I still don't know what my blood type even is, but I do know that when I don't eat meat for a while things start to feel unbalanced for me.
Based on what I've experienced there is no real perfect diet! Perhaps there's a few universal truths though: Stay away from white refined sugar and flours, artificial sweetners, wheat/ gluten (especially non-organic wheat/ gluten), non-organic foods (pesticides, herbicides, gmos), processed/ vitamin fortified foods, fast foods, fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, soda, etc... I would like to say to stay away from dairy since I personally do not do very well with it, however I know of people who do very well on raw dairy. I do recommend staying away from non-organic dairy that consists of harmful RBGH hormones though.
According to one of my past nutritionists, a balanced diet consists of a small portion of protein, lot's of vegetables, a small portion of starch and some fat. I currently make sure each meal contains a small portion of protein (animal or vegan), vegetables and/ or green superfood powder, starch (mainly quinoa, millet and/or gluten free oatmeal) and fats (coconut oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil, cod liver oil and /or olive oil). I also eat fruit. Everything is organic! I also take a ton of excellent supplements and essential oils. I drink reverse osmosis water and/or spring water all day long and I also like to drink fresh juiced vegetables and fruits here and there.
But we are all unique individuals with different things going on in our bodies and energy fields. A good diet for one person may be a terrible diet for another person. So in my opinion the best thing to do is figure out what diet works best for you and stick with it! I wish you the best on your search for the perfect diet! Peace and Blessings!
Jennie Haiman is a Reiki Master Energy Healer, Co-Founder of Self Saviorz Society California Non-Profit 501(c)(3), Poet, Author and Entertainer with goals to help raise the vibration and consciousness of humanity!
