Veganism and Autoimmune Disease: How Going Vegan Changed My Life

Article by Ada Jenkins
It all started after I gave birth to my second child. I knew within those first few weeks that my body had changed.

Although I suffered from the same complaints that many new mothers have, such as excess body weight, exhaustion, and mood swings, I felt that there was something wrong.

Instead of bouncing back from the trauma of the birth itself, I was exhausted and struggled to get out of bed each morning. I was sinking into despair. With two young children to care for, I harbored a deep sense of failure and shame.

A couple of years passed, and my energy levels started to improve. However, I still didn’t feel like my old self: I was too fatigued to exercise or go out with my husband, and I still struggled to keep going until the end of the day.

I went to see my doctor, but was told that there was nothing wrong. So I took control, and decided to change my diet. I have always felt guilty about eating meat. My health was failing, and I knew that I had nothing to lose by switching to a vegetarian diet.

I was vegetarian for two years. I still felt bad about consuming dairy products and eggs. Then one day I discovered the truth about the dairy industry’s brutal treatment of cows.

I instantly cut all animal products from my diet and went vegan. Something incredible happened: I was more spiritually alive than I’d ever felt before. I became calm, focussed and intensely aware of my internal state. I stopped feeling stressed, and I was filled with a sense of wellbeing.

More: Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide »

When we moved house, I decided to pay a visit to my new doctor. I still wanted some answers, and I mentioned the tiredness that I’d experienced since giving birth.

I mentioned thyroid testing, as I’d read on the internet that a malfunctioning thyroid can cause fatigue. He ran some tests. I left, not expecting to hear anything back.

When the doctor told me that I had tested positive Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, I was completely taken aback. He explained that the thyroid was a small, butterfly shaped gland at the base of your neck, and is responsible for controlling the metabolic processes of the body.

An under-active thyroid, caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, results in fewer metabolic hormones, causing sluggishness, constipation, weight gain, dry skin, and depression.

My antibody test was very high, meaning that my body was in the process of attacking its own thyroid. He said that there was nothing that he could do to treat me until more thyroid tissue had been destroyed. Then I would be on medication for life. In the meantime, I had to learn to live with an autoimmune disease.

Once I had processed this information, I realized that I didn’t want to be on medication until I was left with no other choice. I firmly believe that my vegan diet has helped to control the antibodies that were attacking my thyroid, and I decided to find more foods that would help.

I have a strong preference for organic vegetables and fruit, and the lack of pesticides is good for a sensitive immune system. I found some amazing organic brazil nuts, high in selenium to help keep the antibodies down. I incorporated more whole grains and fibre into my diet, choosing red kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, and butterbeans. I also try to avoid gluten as much as possible.

Despite my diagnosis, I have not yet been put on any thyroid medication. I believe that this is a result of my vegan diet. Going vegan has improved my sense of wellbeing, spiritual health, and has restored some of my energy by nourishing my body and clearing it of harmful toxins.

Knowing that there are so many artificial growth hormones in meat makes me so grateful to have adopted a simpler, more compassionate diet. There is no telling how the antibiotics and hormones in meat impact the immune system, and I wish that I had chosen to follow my vegan path a long time ago.

For anybody who has an autoimmune disease or generally feels unwell, I would wholeheartedly recommend going vegan. Although there is no cure for autoimmune disease, going vegan will improve your mind, body and spirit, and give you the strength to keep fighting for a better future.