Stories From Veganism
Posted by Anna Wechsel onBefore we get started, we just want to clarify - we're not here to condemn vegan or vegetarian diets, but rather share stories from customers and our team on their experiences with various ways of eating, the impacts they've had and where they're at now.
No diet or way of eating is "perfect" for everyone... if we're learning anything through our own journey at APE it's that every body has unique eccentricities that require a personal approach. However, what we would offer, is that rather than planting yourself in one diet camp or another, is to try giving a whole food diet a chance, one that is sourced from regenerative farms and where the food you're consuming provides your body with a full spectrum of high-bioavailable nutrients, which in our opinion, does include animal foods.
Lastly, there is more evidence coming out that clearly shows the nutrient deficiencies people who follow a strict vegan or vegetarian diet develop, especially when it comes to vitamin B12, protein, calcium, fats, vitamin A, choline, zinc, DHA, glycine (found in animal collagens) and iron, just to name a few.
We hope the below stories give you some insight, no matter what foods you're currently consuming, into how important it is for your body to receive highly bioavailable nutrients in order to support your physical and mental wellbeing, especially if you're experiencing health challenges or have certain health goals.
Kat's Story
I'm a Yoga teacher and Yoga brand founder so my Veganism was something I never questioned. Ten years ago the health scene was dominated by vegan snacks and alternatives. If it came in a packet or plate with a V next to it that was all I needed to know. I didn't question my extreme fatigue, irregular cycle, feeling spaced out or gnawing feeling of never feeling satiated and content - both in mind and body. I'd only question if it was Vegan or not.
A few years ago I sadly suffered an ectopic pregnancy and emergency surgery. I lost a lot of blood and never seemed to be able to "get my bounce back". I was taking iron supplements but they didn't seem to make a difference. I was exhausted and felt "not attached to the planet" and disconnected. Dizzy spells started to impact my day to day and I knew I had to take action. I craved a deeper, simpler connection to who I actually was and how I was supposed to be.
A return to nature, our nature.
The first steak I ate it was like something deeper and more primal took over, rather than experiencing an "Ick" my body felt alive, like I was powering up. I couldn't believe how easy it was on my digestion and how satiated I felt. I came across APE and started exploring the range. My body felt vibrant, my blood work improved quickly, my skin cleared up and I felt calm and strong for the first time in years.
The only thing drumming in my mind were old vegan ethics. I sat with it and realised that I can only truly practice my values if I am well and able enough to show up. If I can't do that I can't make a true difference.
The trust and reassurance of ethical and regenerative farming with APE helped me see that I am part of a something bigger than me, I am part of nature and its food cycle.
-Kat (founder of Yogi Bare)
From our customers...
What's fascinating about the stories that we hear from our customers and in our product reviews is that people are often pushed towards restrictive diets for a variety of reasons, some of which are based on the development of chronic health issues, intolerances or prolonged nutrient depletion. And we often hear of people thinking they need to turn to highly processed and less bioavailable vegan supplements due to these food intolerances, eg. diary. But the answer isn't always about restriction, and it's never about turning to highly processed foods and supplements. The missing piece we see time and time again is that healing, especially within the gut, is what is most needed. Not only to alleviate chronic health issues but to improve skin, digestion, nutrient absorption, energy, hormones, etc.
Regardless of why people decide to reintroduce animal foods into their diet, what we're seeing is that through this reintroduction, not only are people healing, but they are better able to absorb the nutrients from the foods they are consuming leading to improved overall wellbeing and health. Plus, they're able to eat a wider spectrum of animal foods, vegetables and fruits, return to their more active lifestyle, rebalance hormones, and reduce the number of supplements they're taking, focusing more on food first nutrition and filling in the gaps where necessary with real food supplements.
"These vitamins are amazing. I'd been on vegan supplements for 3 years and even though I eat meat, I do have a few major allergies which leave me on a restricted diet. Prior to finding APE, I'd been told I had an iron deficiency and even my hair started falling out. I've also bought a few other APE supplements, as I'm not sure which are best, but have noticed nearly overnight changes including constitution. Same exact diet - nothing else has changed. I'm really happy with these." - Rie (Beef Organs Review)
"Love this product. I cannot eat dairy so always used vegan protein. This is amazing it mixes well, it’s light to drink no fillers. I never feel bloated after taking. Just satisfied. Flavour is good too, I drink as it is or I mix. with my electrolytes so it’s a little sweeter and I mix with water as I can’t drink milk. I’m looking forward to trying the vanilla flavour next." - Maria (Grass-Fed Beef Protein, Cacao Flavour Review)
"Purchased optimised male for my husband last month and he has noticed a positive increase in his libido. After being vegan for 5 years and recently transitioning back to animal products he didn't feel quite ready to eat liver so thought this would be a great place to start. He has also noted increased energy and uplift in mood. Highly recommended!!" - S.L (Optimised Male Review)
"I have recently transitioned from vegan to regenerative nose to tail and experienced so many health benefits. This company are so helpful and professional. They have a genuine passion for real healthy whole foods and I have found their supplements to be amazing value and top quality. Thank you for everything that you are doing !!! ❤️" - Emmy
Anna's Story
I'm the head of marketing here at APE and I'm pretty sure I've tried every "diet type" out there. I was vegetarian from 15-23, then pescatarian from 23-30 (which I actually felt quite "good" on); however, as I neared my 30s I started to get horrendous flushing and rosacea-like symptoms, low energy, and constantly battled with candida.
From 30-34 I was vegan, and this had the longest and worst impact on my hormones (my cycle went all over the place), my skin (constant breakouts and flushing), increased bloating and terrible digestion (which got worse the longer I was vegan). At the beginning of starting a vegan diet (which being vegetarian/vegan was being pushed HARD in the yoga community I was part of and worked in at the time) I actually felt quite "good"- energised, lost weight (which I didn't need to), etc, likely from initially ditching a lot of processed foods. But this changed very quickly, and despite the decline of my health (I figured I just wasn't taking the right supplements or eating the right combinations of foods, I stuck with it, thinking I was doing something better for the planet. Meanwhile, I was destroying my mental and physical health. My anxiety was at an all-time high, handling stress was challenging and my body just felt more and more depleted. Not to mention I was consuming an insane amount of supplements, trying to make up for what my diet was missing.
Around 2018, I was 34, I felt that worst I'd ever felt and in a desperate act to change and reclaim my health, I went carnivore- organ meats, animal fat, no vegetables, no fruit, nothing. This elimination approach helped to heal my gut and get me on the road to recovery but it wasn't the full answer. It wasn't until I started consuming Collagen (marine and bovine), Colostrum and a wider variety of organ meats, oysters, seasonally aligned fruits and vegetables that my gut truly began to heal, my skin drastically improved and my hormones came back into balance.
As I now approach my 40th birthday, I feel healthier and in better physical and mental shape than ever before.
I take my health and approach to lifestyle very seriously, not in the restrictive sense but in a way that I know I'm supporting both the inside and outside of my body. I live an incredibly active lifestyle- skateboarding, surfing, yoga, weight training, etc- and I want to continue to remain as active as I can for as long as I can.
I think my story is a testament to the fact that no one diet works for everyone, and that ultimately we must take sovereignty over our own health, to seek the advice of integrative health practitioners and find a path that suits our own body.
-Anna (HOM @ APE Nutrition)
Our personal take on this information is that for the vast majority of humans, animal foods are necessary not just to function optimally, but for a baseline level of health from a nutritional standpoint. And although we're not against any type of diet, we think it’s really important to understand the nutritional approach you’re adopting and the potential risks involved.
Nutrition can be a really complicated topic but at the same time it’s so simple… Nature inherently has us covered, so if you just eat local, seasonal foods that are organic (for plant foods) and (grass-fed / free-range / wild-caught) for animal foods you’ll more than cover your micronutrient requirements without having to think about them. However that’s a lot easier said than done in the modern world where supermarkets shelves are lined with nutrient void convenient foods. That’s why it’s so important to find your local farmers market and make a habit of going there every week… do this and it’s hard to go wrong.
Nutrition can be a really complicated topic but at the same time it’s so simple… Nature inherently has us covered, so if you just eat local, seasonal foods that are organic (for plant foods) and (grass-fed / free-range / wild-caught) for animal foods you’ll more than cover your micronutrient requirements without having to think about them. However that’s a lot easier said than done in the modern world where supermarkets shelves are lined with nutrient void convenient foods. That’s why it’s so important to find your local farmers market and make a habit of going there every week… do this and it’s hard to go wrong.
Live well,
The APE Team
