New Vegetarian and I have a few questions

Question

I am on my 6th day of being a Vegetarian and I am experiencing extreme stomach pains and bloating. I also have gas. I feel like I am really hungry when it comes to the end of the night. Why is this and will it ever go away? Please help as I am about to give up.

Answer 1

Its probably becasue your stomach is still not used to the types of food you are now eating.  Also, it could be the types of foods you are eating that is causing the gas. Wait a while and your stomach will get used to it. Make sure you are getting all the protiens, vitamins etc.... that your body needs, make sure your diet is healthy. I've been a vegetarian all my life, don't worry everything's gonna be great once you get used to it.  

Answer 2

You probably need to eat meat... vegetable protein is incomplete and just ferments and rots in your gut. It doesn't get absorbed at all. In the mean time, please keep the windows open.

If you want, get some laxatives and flush your body of that filthy food and get a good hamburger. It cures everything.

Answer 3

Your body is transitioning.  It will go away after a few more days.  Meat and dairy are addictions that your body still craves in one way or another.  But once you've been vegetarian for a while, you'll see that your health will improve greatly, as will your digestion.  As far as feeling hungry, make sure you're getting enough whole grains and wheats.

Answer 4

maybe you not getting enough protein. try eating some beans,nuts,legumes,  and for the gas try beano.

Answer 5

wait a month your stomach will get use to it  

Answer 6

There are a number of things you can try to counteract the effects you seem to be having. Among them might be going to smaller but more frequent meals. You don't mention what you've been eating which could help in figuring out the problem. It is possible it's timing coinciding with normal hormonal functions which can be more pronounced on a high-fiber diet. Lightening up on the beans a bit if you've just added them or increased them in your diet might be a good idea.

You can try Beano which helps some people.

Or try savory herbs which have been used for centuries in foods to counteract these effects. To reduce flatulence and intestinal symptoms cook with herbs and spices such as fennel, anise, turmeric, lemongrass, dill, oregano, rosemary, bay leaf, parsley, hing, carom seed, epazote, ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, and cumin. Experience shows the body also gradually adapts with increased consumption.

However, digestive bitters might be your best bet. They can be added to some water or soda, or tonic water. Not even bad on their own (a half teaspoon with each meal). I've known people to get a lot of relief not just for the gas but bloating, aching, feeling nauseated, burping, heartburn, and more. Plus bitters are natural. They do have some alcohol but it is like vanilla extract has some alcohol. I can buy them off the same store shelf.

Another alternative (or in addition to the bitters) is to add a good, strong chai tea to your daily diet. Masala Chai has a lot of the same herbs that are suggested above and which are considered to ease digestion. I make a batch every few days with a loose masala chai mix of black tea bought from the bulk section, to which I add crushed fresh (though dried) spices of cardamon, whole star anise, whole clove, pepper corns, cinnamon stick, ginger, nutmeg, and orange peel (if you make your own masala chai you'll need more spices but it's probably less expensive) Break up the whole spices a bit to help them release their essence in either a mortar & pestle or, as I do, a small deep bowl and bottom of a glass, and throw in the water, bring to a boil, remove from the heat, put loose tea in, let steep for 10 minutes or so. Strain off into another container (not plastic as it leaches), let cool then refrigerate (as much as several days as you use it up). Take out what you want, when you want it and add a bit of vanilla soy milk (or milk alternative of your choice -- Organic Valley does an amazing one but Pacific and Eden are very good) in a 1 to 1 or 1 part milk to 2 parts tea mix. Put in a bit of sugar of your choice (demara is good) to sweeten just a bit and drink as is, chilled, or heated up. If heated you can add powdered cinnamon for added taste and health benefits (great for regulating blood sugar better -- for some reason cinnamon doesn't incorporate into a chilled drink instead just sitting on top).

But don't give up!

:)

EDIT TO ADD: Actually contrary to Joe M's claims, it's meat that rots in our guts taking several days to get through while plant foods go through much quicker:

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow...

For that reason and because veggie food has less calories overall, go ahead and eat if you are hungry. It will go away because veggie food tends to be more nutritionally dense so once your body gets its fill of those you'll stop feeling so hungry and cravings will go away.

You're also going to smell a lot better as a vegetarian (in all ways from body odor to breath and more):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16891...

http://www.happycow.net/blog/?p=178

http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.asp...

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EDIT TO ADD MORE: Meant to point out too that dried herbs and spices can be bought from the bulk sections of many stores these days including at stores like Whole Foods, and even better co-ops/health food stores, or Indian/Mexican stores (probably even Asian stores). This makes it nice as one can buy in tiny amounts to find out if the spice is even liked and then more can be bought for much less money than the pre-packaged spices (price per pound can seem outrageous such as $25 but spices are rarely heavy so usually no more than a dollar or two -- there is a produce store near me that packages spices up in 25 cent bags).

Answer 7

Don't give up yet, it's only been 6 days.

have you been eating ridiculously different food? Like a lot of legumes and tofu. If so, then hang in their for a few more days and your body should get used to it. I'm uncertain about the hungry part.

It is possible that you happened to get a stomach virus and it's a coincidence that you got it at the same time as you went vegetarian. So wait at least a few more days, maybe take some stomach pain pills and see what happens

Answer 8

You're eating a lot more fiber and your body is adjusting. That could make you feel full, uncomfortable and bloated. You might also get gas from it.

Try eating something filling and high-fiber and protein before bed, like whole grain bread with natural peanut butter, or a pita with hummus. I personally can't fall asleep without eating, I always have something before bed and have done so since I was a little girl, and it's never made me fat. I hate waking up at night and feeling hungry, and when you're full and warm you sleep better anyway.

However, if you're already hungry and it's passed on from your stomach and yet you still feel sick, there might be more to it!

You might be allergic to a new food you began to eat recently, too. Are you eating a lot of soy? Trying new types of grains? Eating a lot more dairy or eggs? Keep a food journal and be specific and notice if you're just eating a heck of a lot of something. Try cutting out typical culprits one at a time, seeing if you feel better, then adding it back into your diet after 3 days and cutting out something else, until you find the source. Try seeing it it's things like citrus fruits, diary, eggs, gluten (in products with wheat and wheat derivatives), soy, certain nuts or seeds.

Also, are you eating a lot of meat-like stand-ins, like those frozen meatless nuggets and fake ribs? They are a good substitute in a hurry but it's equivalent to fast food - it's not something to use as a staple in your diet. They're full of fat, salt, preservatives, flavoring agents and chemically processed ingredients. Enjoy whole, natural foods that your body can handle.