Sly Bald Guys Forum
Confidence and Success => Fitness/Diet => Topic started by: buddha on January 29, 2012, 07:57:11 AM
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We tried an experiment in the buddha house starting August of 2011. We had seen the movie "Forks Over Knives" which is basically about a vegan diet. The commentator decided, on his doctor's advice, to try this for 16 weeks and then report on his results. To be honest my sepcific memory of what happened to him is foggy at best. But I ate vegan for 16 weeks during the period of August through December of 2011 just to see what would happen.
The reason I decided on this particular period is because I have an annual employee health screening during my birth month (December) which is mainly bloodwork. My results in December of 2010 were OK but nothing special. My fasting glucose was 107, total cholesterol 195, triglycerides 110 (anything under 150mg/dL is "acceptable"), HDL 50, LDL 123 (this is close to being borderline high, I was near the top of the 100-129 mg/dL zone.
So after 4 months of being 99% vegan I did have some reportable results. Glucose was 106 so not much change there. Total cholesterol dropped to 172, Triglycerides dropped to 53 (less than half what it was the year before), HDL 51, LDL dropped to 111.
I ended up with a slightly elevated HDL which is a good thing, a moderate drop in LDL, but a stunning decrease in Triglycerides. The human body needs some triglycerides to burn for energy but an overabundance can be indicative of problems according to webmd.
So for people who have trouble with high triglycerides the vegan diet might be something to consider aside from prescribed meds. Do your own research, of course and maybe watch the movie. I referred to my journey as 99% vegan because once or twice a month we would go out for fish fry with friends because this is northern Wisconsin and THAT is how we roll. But the rest of the time I ate a totally plant based diet.
One additional benefit was losing 14 pounds during that period. I was not overweight to begin with and I made no changes to my exercise regimen. The weight loss, I think, was attributable to the diet.
Just something to think about.
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Thanks for sharing.
My wife is a vegetarian and I have been migrating to more fruits and vegetables and less meat and I have experienced more energy and loss of weight also.
I haven't had my bloodwork done so I don't know the full results but I would like to believe my cholesterol has also lowered.
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This Speaks Volumes , Awakened one . Practising BUddhism as I do it is being kind to onself and others including animals , my practice does not involve a dietary ruling at all but the science which you have experienced proves what has been known for thousands of years .