Reformed vegetarian having trouble with meat

[Spencer Durland]

I searched around on the forum and didn't find anything like this, but I hope it's not a repeat.

I recently got my girlfriend into CrossFit/paleo and she's had some trouble actually stomaching the meat that is integral to paleo-style eating. She was raised a vegetarian and although she gave up a strict adherence to it as she got older, she didn't eat that much meat until she began to try to replace the corn-beans-rice with fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. Actually eating or even the thought of eating meat (eggs don't seem to be much of a problem) often makes her stomach feel "grumbly" and "a few notches below nauseous."

Has anyone had a similar problem with the switch from mostly vegetarian to eating more meat?

[Daniel Olmstead]

I recently started eating meat after 22 years of vegetarianism. I had some mild nausea the first couple days, but it passed. I'm not sure how much of that is real and how much is pyschosomatic. It was definitely a freaky experience for me.

I have, however, had TWO back-to-back, persistent low-grade colds since I started eating meat about a month ago, after many months of nary a sniffle. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm not having some sort of allergic reaction as my body adjusts, or if it has somehow affected my immune system. Whatever it is, it's pissing me off.

[Mike ODonnell]

I've heard fish can be easier for some. Also may want to get some digestive enzymes to see if that helps.

[Spencer Durland]

Thanks for the input. It seems like the psychosomatic aspect is probably, at least in part, at work. If that is the case, has anyone found any benefit to backing off some and trying a ramp up period similar to what is advocated for CrossFit workouts or should she just stick with it?

[Garrett Smith]

Backing off and ramping it up would be a good approach here.

Women and blood type As tend to have less stomach acid as a rule, she may need to take some Betaine HCl to help get her production back online. Also, some people just plain need less animal protein than others, she could be one of them.