I've been vegan for some time, and ever since I started, well, a couple days after, I became unable to sleep very well. I recently found out that some of the Enzymes (sp) in milk have been essential to my ability to sleep, because of something with my brain I don't know... it took a doctor to explain it and I didn't understand. Fact is, without dairy, Im an insomniac. I had thought at first that I would adapt, but I haven't. So, anybody have any suggestions? I'm trying not to go back to just vegetarian, but my health is at risk, and I won't take sleeping pills.
have you tried tea? some teas are made to help relax you and get you to sleep...i usually drink them when I'm having a rough night
I definitely agree... ginseng is good... and theres this crazy japanese one ive been drinking lately with brown rice and popcorn.... amazing
Or... You could accept that meat and dairy, in small or moderate amounts, is usually very good for humans and simply adopt an organic 'cruelty-free' diet. Unless you get off on being vegan. That's different. At least you're getting some ego satisfaction in return for your troubles.
It's possible that your insomnia is a result of your reduced-calorie diet. When you cut meat/dairy out of your diet, you cut out 75% of your caloric intake. That's a good thing, dude. A recent study of fruit flies showed that the "starved" flies slept less, were more energetic and lived longer. (This was in the Time Magazine issue about aging, 2 or 3 months ago.) So I guess my point is: insomnia sorta comes with the territory. It's the price you have to pay for being a mega-efficient machine. Um... maybe you could take up a hobby like crime-fighting or something. I may have an extra cape you can borrow...
Definitely! I say just ditch the whole sleep thing all together... It is simply a complete waste of time. Whats the worst that can happen anyways?
potatoes and bread(starch) do what i assume dairy does, or something similar or equally effective probably, stimulating certain neurotransmitters that relax your muscles, in a much healthier manner than dairy. someone told me that the reason people have such trouble giving up cheese is because it actually has something in it thats similar to morphine compounds, so maybe that has something to do with it? i didnt really have trouble giving up cheese though... and like someone said, a lot of herbal teas, and another natural herbal sleep aid i have heard works very well is valerian root. excercise also will help anybody sleep way easier, and plus you should excercise anyway. or just being more active has worked wonders for the sleep i get, not even 'excercising' really, just finding something you like that involves moving, theres a lot to chose from. for example, i like to ride my bike a lot because i dont consume fossil fuels that way and contribute to all sorts of bad shit(global warming, air pollution, rising gas prices, saudi arabia, the bush family, greed and fools etc etc..), so that gives me that passion and energy to ride it more, and then i dont really see it as excercising y'know? clean transportation for clean conscious' is how i see it, i really dont understand how some people live with themselves, namely un-organic meat eaters and drivers of SUV's, those types of people... hell sometimes i dont know how i live with myself, knowing i could be doing so much more to help the world and its situation... like going and killing a bunch of rich pricks(lolol) instead of talking peacefully and trying to educate some kind folk about some good causes.. i guess ive been reading too much abbie hoffman lately, lol. or dancing for example, dancing is excellent excercise but im sure nobody thinks of it as excercise, most people associate the word excercise(and health) with bad things because weve been conditioned and raised that way, unfortunatley... you can also try meditation and yoga for relaxation too, those are way healthier than dairy. dairy is definatley something you wanna try to get out of your diet if you can, and i would use it as a last resort if i absolutley had to go to sleep, and i would never buy anything that wasnt free range or organic, even now though i think i am lactose intolerant after a couple months free of dairy and then eating some ben and jerrys figuring it okay since they claim not to use growth hormones and support fair trade but then i got really sick afterwards anyway, and that wasnt even straight up milk, just a milk product. but im glad it happened, humans arent meant to drink milk from another species and i wouldnt wanna go back to that. i would definatley work on weaning yourself off that stuff... and what spaceduck said is true, there is no scientific evidence that really proves sleep is really necesary and healthy, like it is an illusion sordove, just a widely embraced one. and under-nutrition has proven to be a lot healthier than over-nutrition, like a fruitarian for example will be a lot healthier than a vegan who takes a vitamin everyday probably. teaches your body to be resourceful, and gives it much needed energy(since the digestive system is the bulkiest in the body, it consumes the most energy) to heal sooooo much stuff its been needing to catch up on, years and years of abuse. like ive been feeling recently i still have meat and dairy traces in me even after like 4 months of pure veganism for some reason, and i talked to someone and they said im probably right, and that the average american liver is 3 times more concentrated and filled with stuff to process than other livers, and that it would probably be a couple years before i was cleansed of everything and really really in tune with my body, but i definatley look forward to it. they also said i was very lucky and fortunate though learning about veganism and health at such a young age, and not doing too much damage. and he is also right about consuming way less fat, and thats a very good thing... some vegan foods that seem to drain me of energy are peanuts and soy ice cream, and those are probably the most fatty things i eat so i guess that would make sense, maybe you can try those as sleep aids? im sure you can find something that works for you and makes you tired that isnt dairy, it will take a little work probably but will also probably be very worth it....
