My Doctor Does NOT Support Vegan or Vegetarian Eating...

[Kathy Turner]

I saw my hormone doctor the other day and he was asking how I was doing and I mentioned that I'd been juicing and incorporating a raw food diet into my daily eating for the past couple of weeks, and that I was feeling less sluggish, and my sleep patterns were greatly improved, and I just thought it was a good choice for me (not always easy, but something that seemed to make a positive change for me). 

Much to my surprise, he pointed out to me that this was not a healthy way of eating.  I tried to explain to him how I have a friend who is raw vegan who is completely healthy (even confirmed by her medical doctor's blood tests) but he let me know that he also has a friend, another doctor, who is a vegetarian, has been for his entire life, but told him that even he would not recommend a vegetarian diet.  And this is supposedly a man who runs marathons.  So what could he possibly mean that he wouldn't want others to eat the way he does? 

It disheartened me a little and I found that night I had a major food fest, nothing good for me, and I woke up the next day feeling like a slug.  I got back on track the following evening and enjoyed some raw vegan spaghetti and a fresh fruit smoothie, slept like a baby, and felt better this morning.

I don't really want to quit seeing this doctor - he's helped me with other issues, and I only see him twice a year anyway, but I find that I don't feel completely supported and always thought I'd want a doctor who is treating me to know ALL about me, including what I eat. 

So I guess for now I'll just calendar my next appointment (which isn't until January) and continue to work on improving my diet health and hopefully be able to show that I really did know what was best for my own body, even without a medical degree.

[Joe the raw christian]

If he can't support your raw lifestyle maybe you shouldn't support him with your $$$$!!

I totally agree, we need docs who support the WHOLE person!!

Blessings.............

[Alessandra]

Sounds like a plan!

[Vanessa Machelle Helm]

My doctor does not care about the diet that I'm on. She just wants me to be sure that my raw vegan diet gives me the essensial vitamins and nutrients that I boldly need! There are lots of doctors that recommend the Vegan or vegetarian diet to their patients!

[Jean]

My doctor tried to put me on the Atkins diet and was not supportive of the raw vegan lifestyle. Sign. Do what makes you feel good.

 

[Kathy Turner]

Thank you so much for all of you who responded to my blog about my doctor.  I feel like such an amateur here, not just because I'm new to raw but also because I had no idea where my blog was posted until I started seeing all of the generous comments.  It took me awhile to even find it when I signed back on.  I'm brand new to FB too, so it's just the social media stuff that's confusing me. 

I wanted to give an epilog to my story.  I emailed my doctor for a copy of his notes on our appointment so I'd have the information for my records.  He responded that his computer had locked up and he wasn't able to send me what he'd typed in but he did respond with his notes and in those notes he acknowledged that I was doing well and had begun juicing.  He didn't mention anything ab0ut his negative view of it and he didn't remind me.  And since that day I've been really enjoying my plant based raw diet.  Tonight I enjoyed my dinner so much (I had an entirely raw day, breakfast through diner)  and feel so rejuvenated - like my body has found its home.  I'm not exhausted like I used to be and it's obvious that I've lost weight (though I tend to avoid scales, but my clothes are much happier being looser on me).  So my goal is to continue to explore this new way of not only eating but being and to continue to gather inspiration and encouragement from all of you who have been so kind as to offer it.  Maybe by January I'll be able to SHOW him how well I'm doing and be an inspiration to him as well.  Thanks everybody - so much.  Kathy

[Maria]

Every doctor I've ever been to has been against even a vegetarian diet. They always go on about protein. And when I point out vegetal sources of protein they just repeat that protein is an issue again! Even my acupuncturist is not pro vegan or even pro vegetarian. No doctor I've ever been to could take in all that I am. I don't know if any one person can totally understand everything about someone. I just go to doctors for specific things if I have too. And when diet comes up I know I have to stand my ground and expect to be challenged. I've been vegetarian if not completely vegan for so many years that I KNOW it works, so they can't really shake my belief in plant based foods. And as stated previously - they don't really train much in nutrition and it shows, usually I know a lot more when talking to a MD!

[Ida Ratherberaw]

Penni is right, no nutrition education in medical school, and if there is any, it's totally outdated. There ARE many doctors that are nutritionally minded, and have written great books about it. Here are a few names...Dr. T. Colin Campbell, who did the longest running nutrition study for 30 years- The China Study, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, who is featured with Dr. Campbell in the documentary Forks Over Knives, see that one! He was Pres. Clinton's doctor. Dr. Neal Barnard, of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Dr. Joel Fuhrman Eat to Live, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. dean Ornish, Dr. Andrew Weil, who heads up a dept. at the University of Arizona on Nutrition and Medicine, and Dr. Hyman who has written some great books. These are just the few that come to mind right now. Your dr. Is in the dark ages, sorry, as the song says...The Times , they are A'Changin.
What I like to say is, the dr knows a lot of things you don't know... But what he doesn't know, what YOU are an expert in, is YOU!. that's right Kathy... You are a Kathyologist. No one else is. Keep listening to your body. You love it, and it will love you back.

[Tami B]

I actually have a vegetarian friend (not vegan because dairy is needed for calcium/protein- LOL) who was having trouble losing weight and talked to her doctor. She was told it was because she was eating too much soy products with hormones and she should go back to eating meat. He was literally more concerned about the hormones in soy and not the hormones in the meat he was suggesting she go back to eating or the hormones in the dairy she continued to eat. Of course it had nothing to do with the high volume of processed food she was eating either.  Most doctors unfortunately only know what the bias studies tell them. All we can do is let them know what it has done for us and plant the seed. My sons' pediatrician just gave a talk at the local children's hospital about eating fruit and veggies and adding smoothies to their diet. She mentioned some people put spinach in their smoothies (talking about us).  Just spread the word and do what works for you.  It took me several times to hear about the raw lifestyle to look into it.

[Seona]

I read a quote by a doctor once that essentially said doctors are only trained in how to cure sick people (and that can be questionable at best), but they really know nothing about keeping people healthy.

[Penni]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience, but your doctor is just like so many others around the globe.  I think the main problem is that there is almost no time spent in medical school on nutrition and when it is in a course format - it is a general overview that includes the old food pyramid and likely has endorsements from the meat and dairy counsel.  

Continue to educate yourself - you're on the right track. There are a growing number of doctors who are beginning to realize the connection between diet and true health. I am encouraged as I travel and meet more and more health care professionals who are open-minded and exploring broader, more integrative healing modalities like acupuncture and plant-based nutrition. 

It is so awesome what you're doing - and I agree, let your life and ever-improving health be a message to others, including your doctor.