Let's Watch Cosmic Skeptic's "Ex-Vegan" Video

Reacting to Cosmic Skeptic's video explaining why he's no longer vegan. It isn't about us.
Alex's video
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[@marad786]

Alyse Parker making a 30 day carnivore challenge video shortly after quitting veganism seems like a pretty good example of "sensationalising"

[@ceciliecerise]

And she was very quick to get sponsored by a meat company

[@sharonmcpeek7763]

Nikocado Avocado.

[@amandajoslin-kk5zc]

Used to love her, but she wasn’t ethically vegan.

[@nicolesapphire3696]

Thing is she was “sensationalizing” quackery as vegan, so didn’t really matter whether she was vegan or not none of her messaging was ok either way.

[@someguy2135]

Tim Shieff? (spell?) Update- I just learned that Shieff was a raw food vegan, which may explain the fact that he eventually concluded that a vegan diet isn't viable long term.

[@depressoespresso8885]

“I can’t even think of one example of that” Nikocado Avocado: HELLLOOOOOO 😠 *stomps foot

[@EverythingIsPhotogenic]

She should have said CREDIBLE example 🤣

[@Wooplot]

bro became an eat-it-all-atarian

[@banditnmbr087]

I mean he definitely popped in my head when she said that, but I think she meant gaining subs from quitting veganism and his was more just being crazy and having really dramatic mental break downs lol

[@easytiger6570]

bro became an eatotalitarian

[@adhiantos]

What a refreshing, objective and compassionate take on this issue. I love your statement “I feel sorry for him because I’m a human being” and how we should be more compassionate and listen to his side and struggles. I love how you respond to his struggles as a rational HUMAN BEING. Most of the response I know, for example “I find it not practical” and some vegans would go straight to “How about the animals?!”. It’s truly not helping, for both parties (the people struggling to keep up with veganism and the vegan movement itself”. Well done 👏🏼👏🏼

[@synchronium24]

based

[@skyemarler4331]

Alyse from Raw Alignment left veganism, gas-lit her audience, and promoted carnism, took ad deals promoting meat only and meat heavy diets. She definitely did what you said no prior-vegan KZbinrs have done.

[@nicolesapphire3696]

She was problematic even as vegan she promoted problematic health messaging so her being non vegan is just a different version of being problematic.

[@Gaia_Seraphina]

Well ... some influencers just (ab)use veganism as a temporary food trend, treat it like a fad diet ... and never saw it as a serious, legit lifestyle in the first place.

[@Wooplot]

she cray

[@StephyGrowsWeed]

haven’t had her on my radar for years. Just checked her channel. She went from 50.000-500.000 views to 2-5.000 views 🫣

[@missloly824]

The fact that Partner went vegetarian as a child when his parents weren't is legendary. I wish I was that cool as a kid.

[@shivangi1307]

I have a friend who went vegetarian at 8 and his brother, who was 4, also went vegetarian. They're 30 and 26 now, respectively, and still vegetarian (mostly vegan, they eat egg / dairy if they absolutely have to when they are traveling). Their parents weren't vegetarian when the kids went vegetarian and they weren't for many years after (although they are now), but they supported their kids' and researched adequate vegetarian nutrition and fed their kids accordingly. I have so much respect for that whole family.

[@CS-xl9xv]

I did too 😊

[@kikiTHEalien]

​@@shivangi1307 Your math is not mathing 😁

[@anildhull6377]

​@@kikiTHEalien maybe her math is mathing, its you who's math is not mathing correctly.

[@harrynac6017]

​@@anildhull6377 @Shivangi edited her post

[@NoesisMS]

The portion of your video where you mention that "maybe" your video will make a difference for someone. I can assure you that you do. I spent about a year or so watching your videos before I decided to finally make the change. Your approach towards veganism was much more practical and realistic than most of the other vegan content creators I had seen at that time, and the wealth of information I've been able to gather from your videos have been invaluable in making my transition to veganism much easier since I haven't gone in blind nor with idealism and rose-tinted glasses. I've had the seed of vegetarianism or veganism in my mind since around 2006, but where I lived it was extremely difficult back then, there were just no available products, and I didn't know how to cook for myself to be able to do it with whole foods. Clearly times have changed, but there was still that huge layer of uncertainty and hesitation. Your content ended up being a large portion of why I decided to take the jump. And as one of the (likely) many people like me that you've had an impact on, all I can say is thank you. Becoming vegan has lifted a huge weight off me that I didn't realize I had.

[@jordibardaji1742]

I suscribe this 200%

[@GalactixFX]

I so much agree to this❤

[@landonnnlandonnn7302]

seeing some empathy is really nice. after watching some other videos (idk why i did that it’s never a good idea), the consensus seemed to be a condescending “try harder idiot”, despite having no idea of his personal circumstances.

[@nicoleaideth]

The goal for society is to eat LESS animal products. We cannot expect everyone to go completely vegan but starting off by decreasing it slowly is better than nothing. Great video btw!

[@pedrohgmuniz]

I've never seen another vegan advocate talking about veganism the way you do: so objectively, so rationally. I think you're very reasonable and, as you yourself put it, charitable. You think about how others feel or might feel, and for me that is so natural! I just don't understand how there are so many vegans out there who are so harsh and aggressive 😥

[@cherrybearylemondrop]

I have no stats, but I bet Swayze has reduced so much more animal suffering by her approach than any other vegan youtuber. She makes veganism seem accessible and ok to slowly convert and have a better chance of staying vegan or mostly vegan.

[@will532]

@@cherrybearylemondrop I don’t want to diminish what UV does, and I don’t think it’s a competition but I’m certain that Earthling Ed has done more. It’s not that her approach is better, it’s just different. Different approaches work for different people. Being calm and logical is important, but I understand why people get so frustrated doing activism, especially if you’re someone who attends vigils and does undercover work. That’s draining, yet vital for bringing awareness to the issue.

[@cherrybearylemondrop]

@@will532 great point. I think Earthling Ed is amazing at what he does too.

[@nickhutcheson8580]

​@@mikethecornking lol yesh that'll make people wanna be vegan.

[@freshairkaboom8171]

@@mikethecornking Thank you Mike, I thought this entire comment section was going to just be on Alex's side discussing HIS mental health like that's all that matters. As Alex himself has said, "extraordinary harm requires extraordinary justification". This is about the animals more than anything, because no matter how bad we humans think we have it, animals have it way worse, they always always always get the short end of the stick, and what I'm missing from all these "compassionate vegan" videos is ANY mention of the animals whatsoever.

[@aprilbl00m]

The way I see it, the most ethical amount of animal products to consume is the least amount possible. For many people, especially those in developed nations with no major underlying health problems, that quantity is zero. But for some people, like Alex, that quantity is greater than zero. My approach is to encourage others to reduce their animal products as much as they can. Sure, I'd prefer if they went completely vegan, but that's not always feasible or practical, at least not right away. But the more people reduce their consumption of animal products, the more we starve the animal Ag industry of business and the more we boost plant-based foods. The more that happens, the more high-quality vegan foods are available and the easier it is for people to go vegan, or mostly vegan.

[@tannerparsons5969]

My biggest complaint about Alex’s video is that in his post, he clearly states that he is “re-evaluating his ethical position” on eating animals, and then in his video, says that this decision is strictly related to his health and practicability and doesn’t mention anything about his ethical position changing. So he’s talking out of both sides of his mouth a little bit. I respect Alex and hope that he can get help for his mental health issues and his IBS, and then give this another try some day.

[@EverythingIsPhotogenic]

I do not believe those statements by Alex are mutually exclusive. The moral imperative for an individual to avoid eating animal products to reduce animal suffering is not a "compelling" philosophical argument. The fact that I am vegan is insignificant to the animals. The markets will not change in any way due to my abstinence. I however "feel better" knowing I'm not "part of the problem." However, the argument is around reducing demand. A groundswell of people *could* make a difference... But it won't outrun population growth to net negative animal consumption. I think his phrasing was off, but what I interpret he is getting at is if you can't change the eating behaviors of the people significantly, you should still eliminate the disgusting processes of mass manufacture. Eliminating factory farming could reduce supply, driving up costs, reducing demand. We would love to say personal ethics will prevail, but maybe the ethics need to be on the markets and compel people where it "hurts," the pocketbook.

[@MB-ru8kg]

@@EverythingIsPhotogenic Agreed. His health is now foundational to his ethical worldview.

[@alexwilder8315]

I too would feel forced to reevaluate my stance on animals in light of what I was going through. It would be pretty difficult otherwise, to live with. The fact he is able to identify this process as it happens, and refer to it, is pretty advanced. We all justify our actions after-the-fact all the time, and most of us don't even have a clue we are doing it.

[@lynns3868]

@@alexwilder8315 Exactly. I had to stop being vegan for the same reasons as Alex and I did the same thing as him with regards to reevaluating my views on the issue. Feeling guilty all the time isn't helpful when people can't be vegan for health reasons. I think encouraging the reduction of animal consumption as much as possible is more important than encouraging everyone to be vegan ( because it won't happen). For someone in Alex's (and my) situation, choosing vegan candy, chocolate, etc., options is something doable since that isn't something that needs to be eaten.

[@nicolesapphire3696]

@@EverythingIsPhotogenic yup, that’s the part that is a deep hole, it’s hard to know that making a difference isn’t as simple as we want it to be. Even though I call myself an ethical vegan there are things that aren’t inline with my ethics that I can’t avoid, like certain medical tests that I know have some animal ingredients, medications that have been tested on animals etc, it’s complicated and a deep heart wrenching hole and I get the practicality and how it can feel like individual actions mean nothing, how it feels virtually impossible to be 100% vegan in some aspects of life even when I’m making every effort to do that.

[@IsaRican810]

I really appreciate the nuanced and compassionate approach that you bring to these conversations. As someone with food allergies (treenuts and peanuts, sesame, and avocados) and am unable to have wheat, soy, dairy, fish, shellfish, or eggs, due to my EoE, it’s always been frustrating and confusing to me how conversations about making veganism accessible never seem to address common food allergies and how prevalent they are in a lot of vegan products. Anything I buy in store has to be top 8 allergen free and while these are often vegan they’re also expensive and often junk food like muffins, cookies, chips, granola bars etc. I would love to go vegan, but it’s not feasible for me right now. What I’m encouraged to do by you and your channel is to not let perfect get in the way of good enough when it comes to animal product reduction in my life.

[@vorpal22]

There are some people who just cannot be vegan. I am an example: I have Crohn's Disease. I am supposed to minimize plant consumption. Anything high in insoluble fibre is right out. I can eat some fruit but my doctors are always encouraging me to eat more meat and simple carbs. My Vit B12 was considered undetectable on my last test, and my D was so low that my gastroenterologist is convinced (and she is probably right) that I have permanent neurological damage from this, because while I was never purely vegan, I did try to maintain a diet low in animal products and high in vegetables, which resulted in me requiring two massive intestinal resections. I have now lost 40% of my intestines and I am one more surgery away from requiring a feeding tube. It is a difficult disease and depressing, and while Alex has IBS and not IBD, it is still incredibly difficult and can cause tremendous pain and illness. Alex looks so sickly in his recent video - at least to me - that I am surprised at the viciousness of the attacks he has received. I understand that people might be disappointed or feel betrayed, but that does not justify many of the comments I've seen. We are not all the same. Some of us have nutritional needs and restrictions that others don't have.

[@chimp09]

I'm sorry to read that, but I can already smell the comments saying something like "I'm having all those issues too and I manage to be vegan"..... I hate that attitude that just because it is possible, that somehow means everyone can do it. Humans are not that easy. It's possible to do many things and people fail for whatever reason. Just look at your health first and if someday you manage a healthy diet easily, you could try to adapt. That is what I would suggest. :)

[@Selaphane]

I'm sorry you've gone through all of this. Have you looked into or tried low FODMAP plant-based foods? I know Lifting Vegan Logic's channel has a lot on this particular subject because he also has Crohn's disease quite severely. Most doctors know next to nothing about nutrition as it isn't required for their degree. Just something to think about. Hope you get better.

[@Assassin99584]

@@mikethecornking aka you are in a death cult

[@Lene-ib7qz]

I loved that he and you talked about calorie density/eating disorders. This was one of my hardest learnings. I went through times of intense feeling sick, and IF I could eat, it would be the most calorie dense food I could stomach. To reach the conclusion that that's okay and I have to prioritize my physical health was so cruel to me, and the start of my recovery after all. Thank you for having empathy for that and still showing "a healthy" veganism!

[@powderandpaint14]

It is always best to prioritise your mental and physical health and don't let any vegans tell you different. Whatever you can manage in terms of reducing consumption of animal products is great.

[@mmhmm9271]

What you're doing is not okay. You're paying for innocent animals to be tortured and stabbed in the neck, because you don't have the strength of character to prioritize their lives over your mental comfort. I've had severe mental health issues since I was a very small child, but I would never try to use that as a justification for committing murder.

[@powderandpaint14]

@@mmhmm9271 murder is when you directly kill someone or something, not when you eat animal products.

[@mmhmm9271]

@@powderandpaint14 I was speaking neither you nor to any other anti vegan trolls, bud. Crawl back under the bridge.

[@KlirrenDieFahnen]

@@mmhmm9271 You also have the choice to not be a horrible human animal. I'm very sorry you still choose to be one.

[@scarletsletter4466]

Being vegan is often difficult for those struggling with autoimmune diseases. However, I hope people will consider choosing ethically sourced products & reducing consumption of animals as much as practical for them ❤

[@lunaacacia]

A little unrelated, but Drew Monson was also the one who made me feel not so alone about mental health ❤️

[@JulciaJuliet]

Same! Drew’s video where he talked about his experience with depression changed how I viewed my own mental health. I’m forever grateful to him ❤

[@architechofreality]

My chief complaint with Alex is he set himself up as Super Vegan Animal Activist, made money and gained lots of followers on the back of it, and slammed non-vegans hard. He is very, very disappointing. I have severe intestinal issues including bleeding and blood clots and have found ways to mitigate the situation. Yes, it can be difficult but consider how hard it is on animals, billions and billions of suffering animals. I struggle to have empathy with him. He lives in London/Oxbridge which are three of the top vegan cities on earth and loads of doctors and dietitians in his area.

[@adk7165]

♥

[@joanabug4479]

Knowing where he stands when it comes to animal rights is a big enough thing to inform me that he's not going to just jump into eating red meat all day long indefinitely. We're all just making assumptions here, but I appreciate the transparency first and foremost and - if he was experiencing these health issues and discovered that tweaking his diet helped and then feeling that keeping up a facade for the sake of vegan activism would be wrong (and it might even be counterproductive, which is my assumption as well) - it's all the more reason to appreciate him for coming clean! Especially since he's in the public eye. We hold politicians accountable for lack of transparency. This guy is holding himself accountable and taking us along with him in the decision - which, again, might not even be permanent. No lies, no deceit, no telling people to stop being vegan or any silly thing - the struggle is real and felt by so many who are going on and off plant-based diets. Saying that it's not difficult just makes people feel hopeless in their attempts. The benefits of a *largely, at least* plant-based diet aren't dismissed even by lovers of foie gras. I honestly can't find the part that made you "very, very disappointed" in him. I would agree with the argument of location, the UK certainly stands better in terms of variety of vegan restaurants, I'd assume - but this could be, in part, my bias, since I'm in Eastern Europe and we're preconditioned to believe it's better in the west... although most of my friends and family who've lived many years abroad haven't necessarily witnessed any kind of occidental dream, it was rather much of the same things we have here, very much dependant on particular regional location - distance to the closest Bioladen/bio foods store and local movements and events, if local businesses figured there were vegans, they'd adapt. Where there aren't, there aren't A slight off-topic Publishing anything anywhere can come along with some amount of recognition and gains, financial or otherwise. Now that doesn't mean he hopped on the vegan activism train for those benefits - that's dismissing a lot of the effort he put into his videos, research and collaborations with other great vegan activists. It's not fair to diminish that... I started watching his videos due to the initial purpose of the channel - you know, skepticism... around theology, at first - mostly. I still don't think he's as big of a vegan activist as many many other great youtubers out there whose only focus is that. It's, of course, a profile that you see of people online, not the real deal. If you'd like, you could look up the theory of profilicity - the author actually has a youtube channel himself. I'm mentioning this because, just like advertisers tell you it's an ad, so does he with most of his youtube videos, adding a disclaimer that the content was constructed in order to attract viewers which, unfortunately, also means it's contributing to the selling of your information to advertising agencies. It's overall an interesting thing to look out fot in general, whenever you're consuming any type of media. Back to what I was saying... I, for one, haven't gotten any vegan-targeted ads - at all. AdSense would much rather promote a certain investment opportunity like the new hype video game, rather than a small vegan start-up. I doubt most of the profit C.S. makes comes from sources other than direct community engagement and support, but that's, again, a supposition based on what I've heard other vegan youtubers say about their income streams/analytics and so on. Can't know for sure

[@Gabeee]

I'm quite new to your channel but I enjoy your content. I'm happy to see a sort understanding and friendly approach that still thinks about it so critically. I have mixed feelings about Alex's video/experience. I've watched many responses to his post and video. Joey for example was quite rough but at the same time I sort of understand his thoughts. I've became vegan thanks to Alex so it was quite a shock to me, especially since I have IBS as well so a sort of red flag popped up in my mind saying "when will you give in?". Anyway, I went on bit of a tangent, thanks for the kind and objective message and your overall approach to the topic of veganism!

[@memefeed2147]

Lol an IBS suffering vegan is all too common, drop the plants and eat meat kid. Not even unnatural vegan is 100% plant based. It’s a fad diet that has been proven not optimal for human health.

[@lisanyugenhascancer6332]

Damn 1000$

[@Gabeee]

@@lisanyugenhascancer6332 it's a 1000 HUF :D not dollars, it's more like 3$

[@UnnaturalVegan]

Thank you!

[@jonnieinbangkok]

​@@Gabeee 😂😂😂

[@chambmad]

I can identify with Alex more than I want to. I haven't talked to many people about my IBS - it's very awkward, even with trusted loved ones, even with therapists, even with my gastroenterologist. So when I heard you acknowledging and validating those issues as truly challenging, I got the heckin waterworks. Thanks, pal.

[@PhysicsLaure]

From a fellow internet stranger, wishing you luck with your issues 🤗

[@quel3301]

I am incredibly happy for your empathy and understanding towards Alex. We need more people like you in the world.

[@solevazquezmaria]

Since I started watching you I was able to switch to a vegetarian (sometimes vegan) diet 5 days of a week. I know it is not perfect, but I feel like I have made huge strides and I did it alongside my husband in one of the countries where meat is super popular. Thanks for not making me feel judged for not being perfect

[@zfeazcesd1047]

First time viewer here. You strike me as very empathic which is really cool. I'm not vegan for practical and financial reasons, but I fully accept all the moral arguments for veganism and hope to be vegan one day. I only just heard about this, but I believe Alex genuinely tried to make it work and didn't quit because of a little discomfort. He's well aware of how this makes him look and I doubt he made this decision lightly or with any joy.

[@nicolesapphire3696]

Unnatural Vegan is an awesome channel to watch if you want to hear a fair, reasonable and non cult like vegan talk about subjects in a factual, scientific and empathetic way.

[@BingBongWasheeWashee]

May I ask what are the financial and practical barriers for you that prevent you from going vegan?

[@emmaponymous]

I have some financial and medical challenges to 100% vegan but I want to for the moral reasons. One of the things I learned about on this channel was "reducitarianism" which is doing as much as we can now instead of waiting until we can do it perfectly. So if you can't be vegan right now, maybe it will help you towards your goal. 🙂

[@tinknal6449]

The joy comes AFTER the switch.

[@Aashishkebab]

Veganism is both cheaper and easier to make.

[@yaso1948]

I love the compassion and empathy in this video. Alex said in an older interview something along the lines of "Veganism is about empathy. Empathy for the all the animals suffering. We can extend that empathy for our fellow human beings and understand it can be difficult to make the switch." Thank you for this video. I will share it with my vegan family and friends! It's a reminder on how to advocate for veganism in a way that inspires ❤

[@mimmyrose2970]

Hey, not-quite-vegan here, you have been really helpful on my journey and I'm definitely more left-leaning than you. You do reach people who don't think the same 😉

[@kerry8461]

Well said. Ditto

[@kiarimarie]

Same

[@TheMrsarahanne90]

Samsies

[@IsThatEtchas]

I find her content helpful on veganism too. Even though I'm like, a massive communist lol

[@mimmyrose2970]

@@IsThatEtchas Same. Do you know the Queer Kiwi by any chance?

[@nisse18]

He said it was inexcusable to eat animals and now his excuse is that it is challenging... I can see why he's embarrassed.

[@methanial73]

Compassion I thought was a cornerstone of being vegan? So many betraying that basic idea.

[@spam3559]

I really wanted to say that I appreciate your content. You’ve really helped me through a lot of difficulties in being vegan over the years. You are literally why I see gray in the world and not just black and white. I appreciate that you have compassion for humans, as well as animals. Your approach to veganism is so refreshing. Thank you for helping me make room for nuance, as well as others, I’m sure. You’re awesome!

[@angnonymousj7721]

Nikocado and Alyse definitely sensationalized it. Alyse even ended up on tv doing her carnivore diet

[@MagicTurtle643]

Thank you for the most kind and compassionate response to this yet. As a strict vegan with chronic health problems, it was easy for me to not sympathize with him much, but I think your response is the correct one. Everyone has their own life and we have to listen charitably and understand that bodies are different.

[@amazinggrace9675]

*"As a strict vegan with chronic health problems"* Such as?

[@MagicTurtle643]

@@amazinggrace9675 Hey guess what none of your business! Neat!

[@MagicTurtle643]

@@amazinggrace9675 Haha but no they're unrelated to veganism in every way.

[@autonomymind]

"Everyone has a life" ... except the animals who are being murdered with justification.

[@MagicTurtle643]

@@autonomymind Hey man I agree. I like to think if I had IBS I still would be vegan. Hopefully he's just vegetarian now? I don't know. I don't really think there's an excuse for eating dead animals, but I do think we need to be charitable and patient with people who are struggling to stay vegan.

[@hanflancocopan]

Speaking of sharing a personal experience in hopes of helping others…I was diagnosed with costochondritis once and had that shooting shoulder pain too. Turns out-not chostochondritis. It was an ectopic pregnancy and internal bleeding. So if the pain gets worse, don’t wait to get checked out!

[@galisatsuki]

There's no need for people to react with such hostility towards Alex. But what I wanna know is, did he actually do a significant amount of research to try and resolve his issues while still staying vegan? Did he talk to any creditable vegan-friendly doctors or vegan-friendly nutritionists about any of this? I highly doubt it. Sadly, this seems to be the case for most ex-vegans too. My other question is, why does everything have to be so final and defeatest for him (and every other ex-vegan)? "It's too hard to be vegan for me right now, " ok..... So plan things out better and try again in the future? Or ya know, maybe go vegetarian for a while? Why is it always all or nothing? I appreciate him saying that he still encourages people to try veganism, but again - why not say "right now may not be the right time for me, but I can try again in the near future"? It just completely baffles me that a person who claims to make the ethical connection with animals could just start eating animals at the drop of a hat, without even talking to someone for expert advice and guidance.

[@mancillado]

I think vegan doctors and dietitians are not as readily available as people think, plus you can only access them privately at 80/100 pounds per session - that’s prohibitively expensive for most people. Plus if he has IBS he’s likely already cut out a lot of things, including gluten which means a lot of mock meats and higher-protein grains are off the table. Not to mention the cost of gluten free substitutes (and the majority are not vegan)… gluten free bread doesn’t even contain one gram of protein per slice but regular bread contains about five. At the end of the day the practicality of being began when you have a pre-existing condition… It’s much harder than people realise unless you are very privileged.

[@sarahaubrey320]

@@mancillado Everyone's IBS is different, but for me increasing gluten decreases my symptoms. I do my best to eat a balanced diet, but there are still many foods I personally can't eat.

[@galisatsuki]

@@mancillado Yes, I'm not arguing that being vegan while having a pre-existing condition is easy. I'm saying that, if a person claims to have such a deep ethical connection to the animals, great efforts should be made before they just decide to start contributing to their suffering again. Also, I have some personal anecdotes on access to vegan-friendly professionals: I live in one of the most dangerous cities in my state (apparently with an FBI safety rating in the negatives) and the medical center down the street from me has a vegan-friendly dietician(s) on staff. A friend of mine, who's vegetarian, straight-up told her doctor (a regular GP) that he had to find her a vegetarian solution after he recommended she start taking an animal based supplement. Her doctor didn't fight her on it and was able to recommend an alternative. Vegan-friendly health professionals exist out there and through regularly accessible means. They may not be outwardly advertising it, but they exist. Now I know these are just anecdotes and it definitely is not the same everywhere, but I'm specifically talking about ppl like all these ex-vegans on KZbin (including Alex) who are clearly not living on the poverty line.

[@ZarinaAhmadzada]

I totally get the practicality thing. I was vegan for 3 years, then the hardships got the better of me. I live in a not vegan friendly country. In most restaurants I can only get either lentil soup or french fries. And some salads that needs some directions of "don't include this&that". We don't get spinach or avocado or broccoli anytime we want in the markets either. It has been difficult, but manageable. It stops being manageable when I have to put my mental health in line and I cannot do that. If couple eggs will put my mind at ease, I will eat them. This is always my plan to go back to being a vegan when I move to a vegan friendly place. And hopefully it will happen in the near future. (Still a vegetarian tho, 11years in 8days 🎉)

[@albawaterhouse]

Alex lives in one of the most vegan friendly countries in the world, the UK is great for vegans.

[@triptripp1873]

You yourself know how much you can do for the animals. And it doesn't seem to me like you are trying to find excuses for pleasure or taste, and that you genuinely care. Good job man, we are slowly moving towards getting veganism easier and easier for everybody. Keep going at it 💚

[@kylas1902]

@@albawaterhouse Yeah but Veganism is not for him. Just like it's not impossible for this lady to be vegan in her country. But it was too difficult to maintain and keep her mental health. You live your life and we will live ours.

[@bognarandras8398]

@@kylas1902 but the animals won't.

[@lynns3868]

@@albawaterhouse You obviously don't have the issues that Alex has. I do and have had to stop being vegan as well. It sucks.

[@ethallial3217]

About preaching to a coir: I looked at your video criticizing Abby Sharp, and I thought you were wrong. I followed her advice on eating what satisfies me. I gained 20 kg doing that. As I was thinking of what I did wrong and when the weight gain would stop, your video popped into my head, and I could finally understand what you meant to say and sort out my diet again. I still eat what satisfies me, but now I am trying to find healthy meals that do that because I need to save calories. Corona was a hard time for me, and I think I would have gained weight anyways, since I was severely overweight as a child and have to be very mindful to prevent that now that I am older. I am 100% sure that I would have taken action way before and would not have put my body under so much unnecessary stress.

[@TheCampbellian]

Your partner is cool. A young man becoming a vegetarian? Thats tough

[@RaveyDavey]

Crikey, a vegan activist reaction that is compassionate to the human as well as the animals. Well done.

[@whoah567]

I'm so glad to see someone talking about the issue of IBS and veganism seriously. I personally know people who have turned away from plant based foods and even towards the carnivore diet (which is statistically not healthy long term) because of the symptoms triggered by high fiber foods. This is an area that needs more research and consideration for sure. I personally noticed some very uncomfortable/embarassing symptoms when I first turned vegan which made me limit my intake of fruits and vegetables and focus on more simple starches instead, which of course was terrible for my weight/metabolism. Eventually I was able to start incorporating more high fiber foods into my diet and my hypothesis is that it was due to adaptations in my microbiome which took place over time. I can only assume this would be more challenging for someone who has IBS to begin with. People with IBS have been shown to have alterations in their microbiome which can be worsened by stress/anxiety which likely makes the switch even harder. Important to note that the microbiome (aka the bacteria in your gut) is what is responsible for breaking down fiber, making fiber more tolerable, and is also responsible for many of the beneficial effects of fiber. Eating more fiber can help build up a healthy microbiome, but that process can be painful if you are someone who has IBS to start with. Dr. Erica and Justin Sonnenberg do some really cool research on this. In particular, they have observed that by eating a diet high in fermented foods (many of which are vegan - kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha) one can improve the diversity of their microbiome and improve inflammation in the gut with or without fiber. Theoretically someone struggling to incorporate plant based foods into their diet could start with fermented foods first before adding in more high fiber foods to build up a healthy microbiome first. I hope we can start having more productive science based conversations on this topic in the future. Thanks for the video!

[@memefeed2147]

Any proof carnivore diet is not healthy in the long term? I could only think about vitamin a liver toxicity from over eating certain organs. Whereas there’s an ENDLESS amount of evidence showing that the vast majority of those who try going vegan quit. It’s a fad diet, stop being so delusional. Edit: It’s quite clear you don’t understand human metabolic physiology or nutritional science to its full capacity. Your rambling about fiber is point proven.

[@tinknal6449]

Please show me the data you use for your claim that carnivore is "statistically not healthy".

[@scarletsletter4466]

I think that many people who are diagnosed with IBS can have different things going on. I have another autoimmune disease & 1 symptom is low stomach acid. So I can’t really consume beans & such. If I eat uncooked broccoli, I become extremely ill, as it’s considered very difficult for some guts to break down. I suggest trying a cap full of apple cider vinegar for those who suspect they may have low stomach acid, & consider eating small quantities & slowly ❤

[@JeanKP14]

@@tinknal6449 I mean... we're omnivores. We technically need both meat and plants to be healthy, but it's more that it's hard to get all the nutrients we need from eating just one or the other. Eating only meat increases your risk of heart disease. A simple google result tells me this lol

[@tinknal6449]

@@JeanKP14 Actually no, it doesn't and the OP states that carnivore diets are "statistically not healthy". If this were the case, she or you could show me these statistics but you can't. You should read this study from The JACC; JACC Journals › JACC › Archives › Vol. 76 No. 7 Previous Next Saturated Fats and Health: A Reassessment and Proposal for Food-Based Recommendations: JACC State-of-the-Art Review Open Access JACC State-of-the-Art Review Arne Astrup , Faidon Magkos , Dennis M. Bier , J. Thomas Brenna , Marcia C. de Oliveira Otto , James O. Hill , Janet C. King , Andrew Mente , Jose M. Ordovas , Jeff S. Volek , Salim Yusuf , and Ronald M. Krauss J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Aug, 76 (7) 844-857 Sections PDF Podcast Download Citation Share on Central Illustration Download Figure Download PowerPoint Abstract The recommendation to limit dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake has persisted despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Most recent meta-analyses of randomized trials and observational studies found no beneficial effects of reducing SFA intake on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total mortality, and instead found protective effects against stroke. Although SFAs increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in most individuals, this is not due to increasing levels of small, dense LDL particles, but rather larger LDL particles, which are much less strongly related to CVD risk. It is also apparent that the health effects of foods cannot be predicted by their content in any nutrient group without considering the overall macronutrient distribution. Whole-fat dairy, unprocessed meat, and dark chocolate are SFA-rich foods with a complex matrix that are not associated with increased risk of CVD. The totality of available evidence does not support further limiting the intake of such foods.

[@Snoopod]

Aw I feel so bad he struggled with all of us, totally understand this decision. Thanks for having empathy on this video, people can only try their best - and for some it's just a lot harder to be vegan

[@arandompotat0]

I appreciate what you do with your objective view on veganism.

[@PhilosophyofGuitar]

You're not being infantailizing or condescending here... You're being rational... Different people are drawn to undertake different battles and sacrifice different things for the greater good. We can't all hold the same role in society... If we did, it would be another species that would be debating the morality of consuming human meat.

[@dreamingrightnow1174]

So, there's ONE vegan capable of compassion..

[@Eemarjar]

I am bit concerned how so many people have ibs we need more studies. In my country is a growing problem among young people.

[@jonathanwilcock71]

I think your approach to this is really encouraging. Its heartwarming to see your compassion and I think it will help Alex in his struggle and his honesty In announcing his difficulties. You seem like a decent human being, so thanks again x

[@seradeanmcforston]

I have IBS and back when I tried so hard to be vegan, it was just painful and embarrassing. I've tried every single mock meat that is available (even the new ones as they've come out) and literally every single one gave me a horrific migraine within a half hour of eating it. I have no idea what in the mock meats is doing that, I haven't been able to nail it down, but I just can't do debilitating migraines just to avoid meat. The list of fruits or veggies I can actually eat without pain or running to the bathroom is extremely short (I related to him so hard when he talked about not going anywhere without knowing where the closest bathroom is). The only things that 100% don't make me hurt ever are meat/eggs/seafood/berries. I've tried several times over the last 17 years or so, and it's the same result each time. Migraines and intense digestive pain.

[@MustardSkaven]

You should stay away from fake meats. It's processed garbage made up of like 50 different ingredients. When studies say a vegan diet can be healthy, that diet doesn't include those processed fake meats. The healthiest diet in general is going to be one that is well balanced, varied and doesn't contain processed foods. I also have IBS and hypothyroidism as well and I've tried pretty much every diet between 100% plant based and 100% animal based. I felt the best on 100% animal based but after a few weeks I simply wasn't hungry anymore. I was NEVER hungry. I'd have to force myself to eat. Maybe it was cutting out carbs pretty much entirely that did it. So now I'm mostly on eggs/meat/fish but I add green vegetables and things like mushrooms as well. I'll also add potato from time to time. Just saying everyone's body is different and who is anyone to say he could easily solve his IBS on a plant based diet. Everyone has a different experience.

[@MustardSkaven]

@@mikethecornking Plant based diets simply don't always work. You need to accept that reality.

[@seradeanmcforston]

@Mike The Vegan Beast "try to make it work"? Do you think it's possible for a human to survive on cucumbers and strawberries? Are you serious? It is simply not possible for some people, and that's okay. I'll not be martyring myself just to not eat animals. I'm not going to be in constant pain. Caring about animals doesn't magically make IBS go away, it doesn't suddenly make my body able to process plants without intense pain (my body doesn't even process most of them, they come out the same way they went in), and you being all snooty about it certainly doesn't fix my body either!! Have the day you deserve.

[@isabelkloberdanz6329]

Why doesn’t anyone stay vegan?? I’ve done it for 7 years and I’m a drug addict so it’s not like I have tons of willpower or anything.

[@xSwordLilyx]

I feel so bad for Alex, my bf has IBS pretty bad and he has similar trouble and limitations and I believe I may have Chrohn's disease (colonoscopy next month) and unless I have a flare I am actually struggling less than he is because changes to diet have much better mitigated my pain and symptoms than he has been able to and it is so severe I stick to the diet very strictly unless I have gone so long between flares to tolerate better, something that never works for him, the tolerance never goes up enough for any degree of safety to an unsafe food. At the same time, I have been in exactly the same position as described during a flare and it is a misery. I recall feeling better and going to visit a friend, something that was much needed, and curling up on their floor immediately in pain, having to leave. Eating nearly only bananas and scraps of bread and not even wanting to drink water. It is difficult to eat healthy period with IBS regardless of any other restrictions. Also his mom has IBS also and has had to cut out PEPPER. There is nothing I like more in this world than ground pepper. And IBS is one of the reasons we have decided we should not have children, it is very heritable.

[@brionybrock6025]

I honestly feel so ‘seen’ by this video, thank you so much for sharing! I am someone who wish I could go vegan but can’t for practical reasons and seeing so many vegans force people to justify these reasons is so upsetting. I had anorexia 10 years ago and have always had loads of stomach problems: IBS, GERD, Gastroparesis, weak LOS. I recovered well, but my stomach deteriorated about 2 years ago. I was put on a highly restrictive low-FODMAP+++ diet and that triggered a relapse. I’m in recovery again but still cannot tolerate garlic, onions, lentils, beans, spicy food, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and I absolutely hate avocado and nuts. I’ve not had dairy in 12 years and have not had meat in 3. But I eat one portion of fish a week and I eat eggs. I also shop vegan brands of non-food products. This is something I feel I can sustain for the rest of my life in a non-disordered, non-restrictive, health-ful way. And I hate that people out there think I’ve just not tried hard enough!!

[@teainortakoy]

Hi, that's a lot to deal with and you are doing much more than most to help animals. I hope you're recovery is going well, my friend had an ED and I know from what she has shared, that they are absolute hell to deal with. So all power to you for having the strength to recover. Go smash it, you absolutely deserve it and keep taking care of you too ❤

[@brionybrock6025]

Thank you so much🥹 Recovery is going well thank you, its been very hard but is such a privilege to have the chance to get my life back!

[@blueberrymuffinscottage]

1:39 Nicocado Avocado

[@JiviteshBakshi]

In India, many people are vegetarians (also don't eat eggs) and cows are raised like family pets for milk, which is completely ethical. This was the standard for almost all of us till european colonisation and islamic invasions. Many people here are still vegetarian or vegan and the staple diet and combination of dishes that has developed overtime is developed to be balanced and provide proper nutrients for this. I think that is a perfect case study for an ethical vegan/vegetarian diet model of a society

[@BestPeriodt]

I love how objective & understanding you are. Such a breath of fresh air on YT. 🫶🏽 Great video.

[@UnnaturalVegan]

Thank you!

[@cariiinen]

Love your compassionate and pragmatic attitude!

[@alma2594]

I’m like you. I never think what I am doing is difficult. Even once, I was a volunteer somewhere where for about 5 days I was in a severe calory déficit because there was not a lot of vegan food. I founded the situation annoying bc I had the people know beforehand but I never thought about not being vegan those days. So it is very hard for me to understand why people quit. Especially when they were ethical vegans. I know the situation is different, I’m just saying is hard for me to understand. Although bc of medical issues, I can get it.

[@janviksne]

I just love most of your takes on things. Such a refreshing, realistic and compassionate perspective on things.

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

Eating vegan as often as you can makes a difference!!! A year here a year there, a few months here or there. It makes a huge difference

[@sectionalsofa]

Thank you. I eat mostly whole food plant based (mainly for health) but have become increasingly aware of animal suffering and the environment. When I have completely plant based meals which is usually 2 out of 3., I feel good about my choices. I appreciate your acknowledgement.

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

@@sectionalsofait’s really Unnatural Vegan who’s kept me always going back to it. We just plain eat too much meat in our society and it’s not necessary or good or sustainable. So yeah anything to reduce that and get closer to a sustainable amount is for the better. I see you, I’m with you lol. I call myself veganish because I can go a month with no animal products and then for a week I’ll have meat once a day, then back to vegan again.

[@kaia8167]

I don't know if this will be encouraging or discouraging, but I want to let you know that videos like this ARE helpful to me (especially this one), because they help remind me that I'm not a bad person just because I can't make veganism work. That sentiment is what's allowed me to continue making efforts in that direction rather than just saying "screw it" because I can't be fully vegan. Whenever someone I know asks, I tell them "I don't follow any particular diet, but all else being equal, I'll choose the vegan option". It's just that a lot of times, for me, all else IS NOT equal. I want to be vegan, but I can't, and it's nice to know that not every vegan out there thinks I should be condemned for that.

[@gorgzilla1712]

I mean if you are reducing animal products to the furthest extent possible, I’d still say you’re vegan. Veganism is a philosophy not a diet :)

[@marianac1150]

I think you're making a great contribution! I eat vegan in 50-70% of my meals, but nobody around me (family or work colleagues) is vegetarian nor vegan. Making that choice and justifying it on every single meal is really tiring.

[@stargazerbird]

IBS is pretty common. It’s a real issue with the vegan diet. I think it’s why the raw till four woe was popular. I can eat fruit and raw with no issue but whole foods plant based with the beans and grains- no way. Thank you for being understanding. IBS is not always about needing the loo. For others like me it’s the constant pain and socially awkward gas all the time. Seriously, it’s not funny when you have to keep your distance on a walk!

[@haircafekevin]

Unnatural Vegan, please...I beg you....please DEMOLISH What I've Learned's latest HORRIBLE anti vegan video.

[@jesserogalski1402]

Alyse Parker and Jon Venus definitely turned into anti vegan grifters after the fact. The funny thing for Jon was they he still sold his vegan diet plans as he did it. Gotta get those bags, right? ...

[@v.a.n.e.]

from the very beginning of my following your content, you got all my sympathies, probably because of your down-to-earth outlook and conciliatory tone which notably set you apart from others, "mean" vegans. this video will only make that difference even bigger and more obvious.

[@dieSterbendeGiraffe]

Swayze, thank you so much for your videos, and this in particular! I find some of the responses so weird, how can people be so mean to people, when they're so compassionate towards animals?

[@dieSterbendeGiraffe]

@Day you're probably right... I bet a lot of people are vegan just to feel superior.

[@issecret1]

​@@mikethecornking you, especially, are grandstanding. I do still hope that you're a troll, cause it's just sad if these are your real opinions

[@TheSilverGate]

Alex has a lot of courage, I doubt it that all the people that are judging him in the different comment sections are 100% vegan, it's so easy to play the 100% vegan role when your reality and your secrets are hidden behind your anonymity. Internet is never what it seems.

[@issecret1]

​@@mikethecornking ok. So? I don't care. What now? Yes, yes, I'm a murderer. And?

[@VivaLaAutonomia1]

Such a powerful statement! Greetings from France 💓

[@Goodmorning1221-]

Quit veganism Melina, or you will end up like Jean-Michel Trogneux.

[@mancillado]

I think the academy of dietetics is talking about the general public, not people with certain conditions. If you have IBS or celiac’s you already have to cut out a lot of foods (my friends with IBS all avoid gluten) and have issues with absorption. Is it impossible? No, but it’s certainly not easy to meet nutrient needs in those cases and we can’t expect people’s entire lives to revolve around getting appropriate nutrition (not to mention it’s outrageously expensive)

[@IsaRican810]

I think you make a really good point about not having your entire life revolve around getting your macros and micros in. The braid statement that “if you tried hard enough you could make it work” often leaves out consideration for all the things that go into being a functional human being aside from just meal planning.

[@user-vn6xo2tc9r]

Love the 2014 Cedar Point shirt 🤣

[@kittyfriend9888]

And to add to that, I also have ibs, some of my earliest memories was going to the hospital for constipation etc, when I was a teenager it turned to ibsd though and I dropped out of high school because of it, like he said the anxiety around the bathroom, I would walk home from sleepovers at 6am before anyone woke up because I was so embarrassed to have my stomach act up at someone else’s house, it’s just a daily struggle trying to manage it, as I reached my 30s it turned into ibsc though and the plant based diet actually HELPED, I do want to go back to eating a more plant heavy diet for that reason

[@maxchenowith9060]

I hope he still tries to do the best he can. And I hope he gets better soon!

[@NN57143]

I think you are a wonderful person. I’m much older than you and have recently realized how brittle all of my *opinions* make me. Thanks for being a Light. ❤️💯

[@patrickingmire8623]

I used to believe in the perfect vegan. I used to strive for that and that destroyed me. I hated how much I stressed over food and lifestyle. Details like "organic uses manure" made it seem impossible. After two years of that I decided to let go. It did cause me to introduce more animal products but my new philosophy is vegan at home, vegan when practical. I don't buy animal products at the store when I go grocery shopping, but at restaurants if the "vegetarian" patty has eggs or cheese in it I don't force myself to choose the salad with nothing on it. Or at coffee shops if they don't have plant milks (I live in France so some bakeries don't offer alternatives) I still order a latte and I enjoy a croissant when colleagues bring them in from time to time. One unforeseen problem was the fact that before my friends would say me being vegan is annoying. Now that I've decided to let myself have some animal products, they make fun of me for not being 100% vegan (even though they aren't even vegetarians). If you are 100% vegan no one is happy because you are either a weird vegan or still not vegan enough. If you aren't 100% vegan then you are still a weird vegan or not vegan enough. People are impossible to please.

[@robinsmit1632]

Don't call yourself vegan then.

[@patrickingmire8623]

@@robinsmit1632 I do not anymore. It's peoples perspective while they try to comprehend my choices that still confuses them I guess. I happily say vegetarian if someone needs a label to understand better but then people get confused as to why I buy vegan cheese, soy milk, tofu etc. when I buy groceries. I guess labels themselves are the problem, even vegetarian isn't good enough for my friends. It's not a big deal though, it's a fairly minor detail nowadays.

[@esteehanvey5647]

I love your videos! I watch while I’m at my desk at work and I always feel like I’m hanging out with a cool friend

[@missaniebananie6473]

Every video you make is a breath of fresh air

[@harryevans4513]

9:53 I don't find think he's repeating the point to avoid criticism but more for the people who'd eagerly use his example as one where veganism isn't a healthy choice (even after him clearing it at the beginning, some people will still have the confirmation bias, so this is a good way to reinforce the point)

[@vorpal22]

Unisom is, I believe, diphenhydramine, and if you don't have a tolerance, it can be like a kick to the head. I have wicked insomnia and I take the maximum daily dose before bed every night and it does nothing. For pain like you're describing, you might want to ask your doctor about cyclobenzaprine. I think it might help and not be so intense.

[@laurie2574]

I went vegetarian as a kid as well and no one in my family was. I just always found meat gross. I still do. I'm like how can anyone eat something so disgusting

[@missaniebananie6473]

Severe allergies to wheat, nuts, legumes, and/or soy or autoimmune diseases like ibs or celiac. That is what it comes down to for a lot of us. I personally do what I can to reduce my intake of animal products but in the current economic landscape, with the allergies I do have and my severe autoimmune disease means that sometimes my body can only handle meals containing animal products. I was a vegetarian for 6 years before I knew about any underlying health conditions and it literally almost killed me.

[@carinaekstrom1]

Me too, as an 11 year old in 1970. It was never hard, but I probably didn't eat very healthy, as my parents weren't educated about health. I gradually learned and did well, but did even better later as a vegan.

[@lisanyugenhascancer6332]

@@missaniebananie6473 just in first world countries. Your diseases is not vegan common

[@sbocaj22]

@@missaniebananie6473 thank you. This is the comment I was looking for. I’m the same way. I’d love to be more plant based but because of dietary stuff im a vegetarian who eats some fish and seafood (and sometimes things that contain ingredients like chicken stock). I think at the end of the day it comes down to eating what you have to to stay alive and not over indulging in foods we don’t need

[@George2647g]

I'm a vegan who has IBS occasionally but I have found that doing the following(in order of importance) always helps to put me back on track (so to speak): 1. avoid legumes 2. ensuring probiotics are taken daily 3. Eat white rice daily for a while. 4. Increase intake of fermented foods. If Alex did those things then I, personally, struggle to imagine how anyone with IBS could find it difficult after those changes.. BUT, maybe he's one of the few who is allergic to rice, or tofu, or fermented foods or whatever... BUT - what I'm NOT going to do is go and attack the guy. Far better to help folks through something is to be compassionate, to talk through the issues, rather than attack them. That's basically the point of ur video too but just wanted to mention my own personal experience and what I found work in case anyone else reads this and has the same kind of issues.. ✌

[@erinh9267]

Soaking legumes all day in water, cooking at right temp for long enough, and then using fermented foods like raw sauerkraut to mix into the legumes and have the bacteria breakdown the legumes for you might work for your IBS sitch

[@exiledkenkaneki701]

The thing is bodies are different, this still does not invalidate Alex's experience at all

[@PhilosophyofGuitar]

I applaud your non-militant and responsible approach to veganism.

[@alanrodriguez233]

What would your response be to an ex-vegan who stopped being vegan just because they no longer wanted to? No health reasons, they just didn’t feel compelled to continue after seven years- in other words, it wasn’t just something they tried for a couple years then quit. It was their lifestyle for quite some time. I’m going through this with a close friend who was also my vegan mentor years ago, and I’ve been struggling to look at my situation with a compassionate lens. Although I don’t like it, I have been quite angry and upset because animals are now suffering and dying because they can’t be bothered to continue. Any tips for how to handle this with more empathy?

[@christines2787]

No experience with this particular problem, but I can tell you that you need to leave your friend room to change his mind. If you're super negative about his decision, then you make it a lot harder for him to change his views because it will cause him to lose face. People will often dig thier heels in if they feel ganged up on. Ask questions about his situation. Empathize. Be supportive and encouraging. This isn't a very vegan statement, but you will catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

[@alanrodriguez233]

@@christines2787 thanks for your reply. She’s still somewhat plant-based at home, but she still have gone back to meats and cheeses. I doubt she’ll ever fully come back, but I’m tired of feeling bitter. I will continue sticking to my morals and maybe that’ll make a difference in their eyes, but I’m doing it for the animals, ultimately. If they come back, great- if not, then the sooner I make peace with it, the better.

[@lynns3868]

@@alanrodriguez233 I used to feel like you do about a lot of things. Realizing that the only thing I can change is myself and the way I react to a situation has reduced my stress and anxiety. My life is so much more peaceful now. I look for the good in whatever the situation is because things could always be worse.

[@powderandpaint14]

Just let them do what's best for them, there may be issues they're not telling you about or they may just feel the need to change. You can't force anyone into being or staying vegan.

[@MyUsernameIsInvalid8]

Be compassionate and give them space. There is almost definitely something else going on, people don’t just change their mind like that with no trigger. They probably aren’t comfortable going into it with you for the very reason that they were a mentor to you - that makes it quite an awkward conversation to have! Also because they have been an influential person in your life, they may be quite wary of having an influence on you and your lifestyle in the other direction, when it is probably very personal decision to them

[@wulfe9262]

Another thing about EDs is that there are times where whoever it is can only stomach one thing or has a craving for one specific thing. And sometimes that thing they can eat isn’t vegan. I’ve been vegan for 5 years but when I first moved away into a college dorm and learning how to live on my own, there was 2 weeks where I broke my veganism because I the only thing I felt like eating was some name brand snacks that were not easily accessible to make vegan. I hope people don’t feel shame for doing things like that because it can push someone away from eating mainly plant based or going back into veganism.

[@laranadesign4764]

For me, it is very personal to choose this path. I "ended up here". Vegan wasn't my goal, I slowly transitioned into it and I am very comfortable where I am as a 12-yr vegan. When I became a vegetarian, my boyfriend of 5 years said how glad he was, because he wanted to be a vegetarian but didn't want to do it alone. A month later, we became vegan (thanks to a cheese making class & bee keeping class we took). I didn't make him change, and told him he didn't have to because it was what I wanted for myself. If I had kids and a husband who didn't want to, I could see how very difficult that would be (if not impossible) without loosing yourself or your marriage in the process. I am vegan because I want to be and that's what a lifestyle should be.

[@laranadesign4764]

@@mikethecornking For me, it's not selfless and I'm not a marter. It's a "win win". I participated in animal rights events (public protests) before being vegan and I always loved animals. "Be vegan for the animals" didn't mean anything to me back then. The reason I was not vegan was because I saw myself, not as a primate (which humans are), but as other animals I adored with different needs from my own. This is the disconnect. Why is it murder if I eat meat but not murder when a wolf does? Because I don't have to. To do so would be a choice to show violence when not deemed necessary. I transitioned in slowly (omni, flex, vegetarian, vegan) because being vegan requires a lot of knowledge I was not taught growing up. It's a lot of inward thinking on right and wrong, how to feed yourself without self harm, how to read labels, be resourceful, etc. It's easy to say "for the animals" like it's easy to say "meat is murder" but both require that the person reading/hearing those messages understands why. The more I learned, the more I changed with the choices I made. This is how I "ended up here". I wasn't trying to fit a label, I was learning and growing as an individual and it lead me to being vegan. I feel very comfortable and very "me" here.

[@elizabethdickinson8814]

I was scared clicking on this video cause I didn’t want anyone else tearing Alex apart. I’m very pleasantly surprised to hear you have so much compassion and understanding

[@sebuzz17]

I do appreciate your compassionate and understanding position on that, well done.

[@domesticmesses]

You are the most sensible person with a lot of compassion! I am starting out as eating more plant based and I find that I feel much better and actually less gassy (hope that doesn't mean a problem lol)! I feel for him because he was vegan in the first place and he doesn't sound like all the other not vegan anymore videos!

[@TheCerealluvr]

This was such an encouraging and refreshing take.

[@doomydoes]

Omg. You don’t hate people for illness. You feel empathy for peoples situations… Wow… I mean, vegans I had come across near me are generally it is all or nothing and I had been told by one (as someone with some messed up allergies and medical things) that I would be better to make myself sick to protect the animals. I stumbled across your videos years ago and as someone who has wanted to be plant based but hasn’t been able to go fully (even on recommendation of my vegan dietician) but I was motivated and reminded that every change is a positive and every step in the right direction is still a win so I have cut where I can and swapped what I can and moved to a primarily vegetarian diet and as we get more options in Australia of alternatives the more I swap because the positivity is more motivating then the breaking down. Especially for helping encourage long term change.

[@tonygordon7571]

I don't think anyone is hating him for his illness. It's only that some people even after his video weren't convinced that he really could not be vegan. It''s not like his ibs is going to go away if he starts eating animal products. A lot of people make it work and he is (or was I guess) a vegan activist, people had certain expectations I guess. Also one reason why people jumped on him so quickly is because he made weird statements in his community post like that he is "no longer convinced of the appropriateness of an individual-focused boycott" which, whether purposefully or not, is basically an attack on the whole movement. He also called fish "seafood" in the same post. Personally it seems like his heart isn't really into it anymore which is very weird considering how passionate he seemed to be in the past.

[@residentjess]

@@tonygordon7571 if he has Ibs then the best thing he could do is eat animal products. A lot easier to digest.

[@tonygordon7571]

@@residentjess As she mentions in the video, lots of people who have ibs get better on a vegan diet, so what you said is not generally true. From what he said he had ibs since he was little so obviously eating animal products has not helped. From the way he described it, it seems like his condition would not improve much by incorporating some animal products. The most baffling thing is that he doesn't mention anything about reaching out to a nutritionist or dietician to see if he could make it work with a vegan diet. After his post many nutritionists/doctors have reached out to him themselves because they wanted to help him. He doesn't mention that at all though.

[@Gabeee]

@@tonygordon7571 IBS is rarely triggered by meat, when it comes to non-vegan things that can trigger IBS it is most commonly milk due to lactose. Meat (especially lean) unfortunately is very easy to digest so it can actually be much better for someone with IBS, an additional important component in this is the volume of food and overall digestion. Especially since there are at least 2 types of IBS worth mentioning. IBS-D and IBS-C, if you have D(iarrhea) then eating a lot can really affect your bowels. I can tell you this from first hand experience, a bigger lunch can compell me to go to the toilet within half an hour. My digestion can go through meals within 10 hours (proven with corn...) Anyway, I'm still a vegan but I have to comfort of working from home and enjoying computer games as my primary hobby so I do not consider it that much of an issue, more of a nuisance. Though it might be affecting my nutrition absorption. I can't really gain weight currently, thankfully im not going down but I can barely eat enough to match my basic calorie needs because my digestion just wants to get rid of it, especially if it's high in volume. 85% dark chocolate and peanuts are my number 1 calorie sources atm. to pump the numbers up. Though too much fat also affects me but well, can't play elimination too much, especially with a vegan diet to begin with.

[@lynns3868]

@@tonygordon7571 Not everyone with IBS is the same. Just because some people can be vegan with IBS doesn't mean everyone can.

[@Qilver]

Personally I went vegetarian about 3 years ago. I do try to eat a lot of vegan options. But I do find it difficult to be totally vegan. Especially as I like to go to the gym and want to get enough proteins in wich is very hard for me on a vegan diet. Ofcourse it’s possible. At this moment I am getting to know new vegan recipes and getting vegan options if I find them

[@mannydamus]

I'm doing a vegan bulk, so far gained 20lb in 6months on just 2 large meals a day. Try "Challenge 22 | Let's try vegan!" It's free. Good luck!

[@Qilver]

@@mannydamus I am going to try a vegan diet at least for a month to see if I can get the right nutrients. Maybe I even prolong this month if I think I will be able to sustain it. I will try this challenge. Can I just search it on google or what?

[@lizfortes9056]

I really appreciate your kindness and compassion for him, especially as i just saw a video where someone was being really unkind. He is so sweet and my heart breaks for him.

[@kiarimarie]

I will never be vegan, but consuming your content I get to know my vegan options and motivates me to eat less meat and animal products. My biggest recent hiccup is I now have high cholesterol and so many vegan dairy replacement products use coconut, and it's just easier to do fat free/light dairy. Wish I wasn't allergic to soy milk.

[@carlycrays2831]

I'm not vegan, but dear God, the carnivore diet just seems ridiculous. It feels like it's for people who are really picky eaters and who just want an excuse not to have to try new and different foods. And besides the ethical problems, it's insanely expensive and offers no variety. I just cannot imagine not eating anything but meat and butter.

[@mikebarnacle1469]

IBS sounds like a unique issue. I don't have to plan anything or think about nutrients and I'm very healthy. The only effort I took on when I went vegan (5 years ago) was to start looking at ingredients to avoid the animal products. I was taking a multivitamin already with b12 in it because any adult who cares about their health should already be doing that. Just don't eat junk food... it's hard to not get all the nutrients you need if you are eating a variety of food and feel full.

[@leastallwitz2760]

There's a reason you're my favourite vegan youtuber.... thank you for being a compassionate, sane human being :)

[@Goodmorning1221-]

She is not vegan. Why you all think that ? She eats chicken

[@Diego-zj7gd]

Many people online struggle to understand how damaging mental and physical ailments are on people’s lives. It’s hard to just “do better” a person with major issues can barely keep themselves tgt let alone hold a vegan diet.

[@UnKnown-xs7jt]

Thanks 4 presenting a kinder take for Alex

[@lukefitzgerald6043]

I just can't pick all my cotton economically so I've had to go back to owning some slaves. But if you can, you should stop owning slaves... Veganism is in fact frequently absurdly difficult. I'm a foodie. Veganism really cramps my style. But I just can't countenance placing my comfort and sensory pleasure ahead of the suffering of other beings. The bulk of humanity is essentially vegan now. Sounds like first world problems to me.

[@graememcelligott8874]

I haven't watched this yet ( I have no idea where people find the time to watch all of these videos from so many different channels!), but keen to see what is said. Personally I don't really get all the fuss. At the end of the day, veganism is a personal aspirational stance, always dependent upon someone's circumstances and knowledge, both of which differ across the population. In the end it is up to each of us to decide just what we can do to live according to the ethical framework. If someone is genuine about this but for whatever reasons believe they must fall short of perfection, it doesn't mean they automatically have to abandon doing the best they can with their personal situation. I suppose I object to the idea that such people become ex-vegans, as though they handed in their membership card and are banned from any more meetings at the local clubhouse and can never again make a single vegan-friendly choice.

[@TheWildForestWitchery]

IBS symptoms subsided, went vegan a few months ago. So far so good.

[@banditnmbr087]

I feel really bad that some people are going to respond very awfully to him. Especially since for an I am no longer vegan video I actually appreciate the way he handled it. He did not go the common route and say veganism is unhealthy or almost impossible or something else that turns people off of it. He said (to oversimplify) hey veganism is awesome but for me personally due to xyz I found it very difficult to maintain and therefore I chose chose to go back to something easier. That's actually pretty respectable imo. I wish more ex vegans did this instead of something that actually makes people think being vegan is dangerous or unhealthy.

[@aravisthetarkheena]

I agree going vegan can be very difficult (and I 100% absolutely don't think anyone should harass this man) but I think the answer isn't "Hey, I have reevaluated my ethical stance on veganism" and "individual boycotts aren't effective". I think the answer is... ya know... what you do - talking about what is hard and what was difficult. Even if it was "I broke because I had to eat something convenient with a lot of calories that wouldn't upset my disease... but I AM still vegan. I still believe in animal rights"... I just don't know what to think about the weirdness of those previous statements of his (which he doesn't address in the latest video). I live in the middle of friggin nowhere in the deep south in the united states and spend a lot of time around people who hunt a lot, are very conservative, and have utter contempt for the fact that I'm vegan amd constantly tell me how unreasonable it is. And I manage. This dude was having trouble while living in FRANCE???? Maybe I'm naivve about what other countries are like, but I feel like my life would be a million percent easier in that regard literally anywhere but here.

[@mollyf-h4008]

Jon Venus 1000% used being an ex-vegan to grow his channel and post anti-vegan stuff. I just checked his channel though, and it looks like his views have dropped drastically (despite his desperate attempts to appeal to anti-vegans) so that's good 🙃

[@saynat]

I don't think I've ever commented, but I've been watching/subscribed for several years. I'm not vegan, I'm pescatarian, but your channel has taught me so many things, including being more mindful about what I choose to eat. I find myself eating vegan/vegetarian probably 50% of the time, just because I'm more conscientious about the choice I have. I agree that it feels like the easier thing sometimes to consume animal products, but having the awareness from people like you makes that choice heavier each time and has impacted my food choices over the years. I never really thought about it until you made the comment in this video that you don't know if your focus on the difficulties of veganism comes across as negative or net positive. It is net positive for sure girl. I'm not doing anything at all spectacular for the animals, but I felt compelled to tell you that consuming your content has at the very least introduced micro-changes into my lifestyle that I have never really thought about, and I'm certain I'm not the only one you've affected that way, despite not going vegan. After watching your videos for so long, I'm much more likely to choose the non-animal choice when presented with the option. Not every time, but when I do it, it's because, as you've said - I can. I learned that from watching you!

[@caiofernando]

Maybe you like her content because it doesn't make you feel bad for killing innocents?

[@saynat]

@@caiofernando thanks, I just couldn't put my finger on it :)

[@ande5460]

My main issue is that he made claims about his ethical position changing and the effectiveness of boycotts in his post and then made no explanation of that at all in his video. If it is all a personal health issue then fine, but why say the rest of that and then not explain?

[@elizabethelias1005]

Alex literally lives in one of the easiest cities in the entire world to be vegan. He also has the resources to be vegan as well as access to health care and a nutritionist. He said his IBS has improved as he's aged. It sounds to me like it was a bigger problem before he went vegan.

[@IsThatEtchas]

The NHS is currently under attack from the government and it is difficult to even get a GP appointment, never mind a referral to a dietician. I'm in the UK myself, and I've had to start buying antibiotics online if I need them because my GP wait is at minimum 3 weeks (if you're lucky). Good chance that if he went through the NHS, he'd be waiting a minimum of six months to see a dietician and he'd have no choice on whether that dietician was vegan friendly or not. And that's only if his GP (who he may not even know, as it's now random who you get) even validates his issue. If he's dealing with mental health issues, which he states in this video, that whole process is very difficult and harshly limits mentally ill people's access to any kind of treatment, because you have to fight at every level to get what you need. I'm going home (to Ireland) soon and I'm planning to go to the GP there for some long lasting health issues I've had because I literally have been unable to see anyone here in about six months.

[@elizabethelias1005]

@IsThatEtchas ok, sounds loke socialized medicine is working. 🙄 Alex has money. I'm sure he can find a nutritionist online based out of another country like the US, and Zoom, email, call, and pay then directly. You know? It's not like he has no resources. He also knows plenty of heavy hitters in the movement, I'm sure if he asked, someone could make recommendations.

[@IsThatEtchas]

@@elizabethelias1005 Em, the entire reason this is happening is because the gov is trying to make it so that socialised medicine is so difficult to navigate that people are forced to go private. While using the crisis in the service as justification to privatise parts of it. This wasn't the case 3 years ago.

[@elizabethelias1005]

@@mikethecornking he already picked a side. The wrong side.

[@5fr4ewq]

Damn, thank you! This is pretty old video, so you probably won't read this, but this is what I needed. Several months ago I also quit (not veganism, but vegetarianism, however I wasn't eating much of dairy and the only thing I was eating of animal products were cheese and eggs). And when I quit, I remembered about Alex also quiting veganism. You said that it was only a handful of reactions. From my humble perspective, no. No, it definitely wasn't handful, it was a vast majority of reactions. The worst part of that? Some vegan youtubers reactions were even worse. If I had point at one thing why people hate vegans, that would be it. The incredibly annoying self-righteous smugness about how good they are and how the rest don't give a shit about animals. Especially towards ex-vegans! These fuckers just don't understand anything and yet they act like the most all-knowing entity! That's just incredibly tiring