In this study, twelve people participated. Eight of them were female and the average age and history of a vegetarian diet was 25.50 years and 29.08 months, respectively. Most people went on a vegetarian diet due to illness, and the most common disorder was obesity. Table1 shows the characteristics of the participants.

After a qualitative analysis of the data, 567 codes were obtained, of which four themes and 15 sub-themes were extracted. The main themes included; In pursuit of redemption (Meaningful framework, In awareness path, Unequaled Disappointment, Chronic and complex conditions), Seeking the New World (Starting with doubt and hesitation, The temptation to return, Constant criticism, Unfamiliar appearance), On the path of overcoming difficulties (Associate problems, Matching the new way, Perceived recommendations), and Attaining the expected outcomes (Healthy lifestyle, Therapeutic feedback, Enhancing emotional wellbeing, Feeling of youth) (Table2).

Participants in the research began the procedure for a variety of reasons, which are classified as sub-themes, Meaningful framework, In awareness path, unequaled disappointment, and Chronic and complex conditions.

Before adopting veganism, individuals identified several important principles that led to their adoption of vegetarianism. Most participants felt that this dietary choice was aligned with human nature and that our ancestors had previously thrived on it for long, healthy lives. In the past, humans lived like raw vegetarian animals, and even God paid attention to their diet. While some may believe that meat is the only source of protein, soybeans contain significantly more.

Four participants experienced the start of their vegan lifestyle as a spiritual matter and called it a miracle, believing it was Gods will. The seventh participant thanked God for the illnesses that led him to this diet, saying, Thank God for these 7 years. I am very well and many times in my nature I thanked God for my problems. I also now say that the raw plant has not healed the disease, but God has cured and everything is in Gods hand.

The participants found that they became more aware of their bodies and how they functioned based on their experiences, and they argued for addressing the root cause of the illness rather than just treating it. " I found hope and certainty on my path and learned what was good for me and what was damaging. I blame myself for any hardships and always examine what I did and ate when my blood sugar rises. I investigated the source and never made the same mistake again (participant 5).

Newcomers to this particular dietary regimen sought to expand their understanding. Participant Number Twelve advised that the initial approach to overcoming challenges is to boost your awareness to a level where you can rationally justify everything and have a scientific foundation for identifying problematic foods. Science-backed evidence is more convincing and trustworthy to him.

These people explained it with research that approved of the features and benefits of vegetable foods and recommended it to others. The apple tree works miracles and swiftly flushes, chili and water for breakfast, vegetable water for individuals with liver problems, salad for lunch, and medicinal herbs are also good for bleeding. Carrot juice and celery juice are excellent, Pomegranate and parsley juice is also good, salad dinner is excellent, vegetable raw sweets are excellent, strawberries and their solvents are very useful, utilize the diet channels and aid, this diet is beneficial for many conditions (Participant 1).

Some of the participants saw vegetarianism as a spiritual refinement that could aid their physical recovery, and they learned about their peers experiences; I was taking 18 tablets every day I advised you to repair your soul, not backbite, deceive, or judge, and to have trust that God can heal cancer (Participant 7).

Participants had come across a sort of disappointment before the vegetarian began that they had not experienced before. This disappointment was manifested in the form of dissatisfaction with life, becoming depressed, and waiting for death. Participant number nine, who was obese, explained his mental condition before vegan; my weight had reached 138 kilograms due to pregnancy and afterward did not decrease at all, I was very ill and depressed, and I did not enjoy having a girl at all I had lost my passion for life, and I had no pleasure in anything I was waiting for when I would die.

Regarding having symptoms of depression, Participant Number 3 explained; before the raw vegetable, my friends brought me a carpet panel to relieve my depression but I was so numb that I couldnt tie and weave (the carpet), I couldnt go to the kitchen and bring a glass of water and take my pills. Some participants count killing animals for human food as disappointing and suffering work.

Most of the participants had progressive diseases for which they had experienced several treatments, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, cancer, morbid obesity, etc. However, despite the treatments received, the result was not satisfactory to their point of view and they were looking for a more efficient and less complicated solution. Participant No. 4 stated: I had bone pains about 6 and 7 years ago, it gradually got worse and I faced it throughout the day. I went to the orthopedic doctor because I wasnt aware that it had nothing to do with orthopedics so they examined me and gave me some medications and told me that this pain will be with you for the rest of your life and you have to tolerate it.

Participant number six had multiple illnesses and declared that the treatments he received made his condition worse. In 1997, I went to more specialists and they said that polyps had started, my (Blood) sugar was rising, and my fatty liver was rising, 3 years ago I had grade 3 and I was afraid of liver cancer, and two ulcers were seen in my stomach, and I was diagnosed with stomach cancer because my relatives had taken it, I was scared, I went to a nutritionist and he gave me a diet plan, and because of that I was getting fatter and added to my problems.

Participant number 3, who was diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer, also articulated, I went to the specialists and the doctor diagnosed malignant colon cancer and said that you should undergo chemotherapy and surgery and put a bag (colostomy bag), but because my father also had this problem and I saw how much he bothered, I stopped going for treatment because I was afraid I couldnt sleep because of fear. I was in severe pain and had to take morphine to sleep for a couple of hours.

These progressive diseases and the treatments that most of the participants were faced with, made them try new methods such as vegetarianism. I was invited to the forum and for a few days I got information and read the book of the deceased Avansian (the father of vegans in Iran) and I chose this path knowingly (participant 5).

Participants initially enter the vegetarian diet with skepticism, although they are tempted to return and sometimes make mistakes/errors (they call it for eating meat and baked food). Due to the change in their appearance, they are constantly criticized by those around them. For the experience of the vegetarian world, four sub-themes were obtained.

Some participants did not accept the effectiveness of the vegetarian diet at first and entered this process because of curiosity and medical problems. But when people started to recover, they adhered to this method and got motivated to continue the path.

Participant number 9, who suffers from severe obesity, stated; Everyone should accept this nutrition method wholeheartedly and then enter it. I didnt start with it wholeheartedly at first, but then I fell in love with it. I now recommend to those who want to start to continue this method for 40 days and Dont slip and assume that he is fasting.

Participant number 5 had tried different ways to treat his disease and stated about the beginning of raw vegetarianism; My other problem was hereditary diabetes and my breakfast sugar (fasting blood sugar) was always 130. I was pre-diabetic and I was very sick. Until I met Dr. and Dr. (the officials of the campaign) and was invited to the forum and spent a few days getting information and reading the late Avansians book and knowingly chose this path, I said that I had gone all the way and leave this way. I also tried and became a raw vegetarian.

The temptation to return to a previous diet was one of the most difficult conditions faced by participants at the start of the vegetarian path, and almost all participants mentioned it. The smell of food, attending special events, and seeing other people consume these types of foods were tempting factors to return. Also, in some cases, these participants made so-called errors and ate a previous diet, which in some cases caused a recurrence of symptoms. Participant number 1 stated, The first months the smell of the food bothers me and it is tempting When I started the diet (vegetarian diet) it was two days before Eid al-Adha (one of the eves for Muslim people). I used to sacrifice two sheep and I was addicted to red meat, but this time even the smell of its smoke bothered me (I didn`t eat).

Participant No. Two also had this in mind, saying that he was tempted to see the foods he had previously liked. If I want to slip and be tempted, its very agonizing, and its annoying. I was tempted to see Abgosht (an Iranian food), I like the Ghorme Sabzi (an Iranian food) but I didnt even allow myself to taste it because I have suffered so much from my illness and I do not want it to happen again. I promised myself that even if I had died not to eat any cooked food, no meat or barbecue, I would have noticed a rapid change in pinch/stint on food. Until I want, my disease will be stopped.

By entering vegetarianism, the participants were subjected to constant criticism from the people around them and their families, which made them feel isolated. In some cases, the participants were even accused of having a specific disease or drug addiction. Participant No. 7 stated: When I lost weight, my family opposed me and said, Eat to live and now the others say that she died of starvation and has nothing to eat, it was my younger brothers wedding that my relatives had seen (me, and) said that she went to Tehran and it is not clear what she has done to himself, would be drug abuser, and it is better to take care of her until she is wellI tried to convince them and I preferred to answer them with a word, when I eat meat, I would have hives.

Participant No. 6 also declared about the familys advice: There was a lot of negativity in my family and people around me, both my mother and my family were saying why you dont eat, what trouble are you bringing on yourself, unless vegetables and fruits should be eaten (would be eaten instead of food).

In this regard, participants had to respond by making excuses, but after a while and seeing the effective results of the diet, criticism was reduced and other family members tended to be vegetarian.

At the beginning of the vegan diet, participants experienced multiple physical changes, such as severe weight loss, hair loss, and changes in facial appearance. Both the participants and those around them considered these symptoms as a sign of weakness and illness. However, some participants, like Participant Number 1, experienced the drastic physical changes as a sign of spiritual awakening and tried to continue the path. Participant number 4 stated: I experienced severe hair loss after 2 years on this diet, and it was very intense. When I talked to one of the raw vegan teachers, they gave me some methods to improve, and my hair turned grow. They said the reason is that dead body cells are eliminated, and new cells are produced.

Participant number 12 expressed their unfamiliar appearance to others: " Those who have seen me before say very discouraging things like how old youve become and your hair has fallen out because they compare me to before, but for those who see me for the first time, its normal for them and they dont say that your skin is ruined. Four months after the raw vegan diet, I had severe detoxification, all the hair on my face fell out, and I got depressed again, I got acne, my blood pressure went up again, I had terrible bone pain that felt like death, detoxification took 10 days, and my hair grew for 5 months (participant 12).

Participants in this study faced multiple challenges during the process of vegetarianism, from physical and psychological changes to social issues and interaction with others. In this regard, they used methods to adapt to this approach and had recommendations for those who chose this path.

At the beginning of the participants vegetarian journey, they faced problems such as severe hunger, bleeding after menopause, detoxification, social isolation, stress and anxiety, depression, and conflict with the doctors recommendations. In this regard, participant number ten remarked: Physically, I have been menopausal for 5 years, but after 15 days of raw vegetarianism, I had bleeding again for a week, and I thought my menstrual cycles had returned, but it was only for a month, and I think it was my uterine cleansing, and I also had a stomach reflux, and whatever I ate burned my throat, but now Im fine, and my ears and throat no longer itch.

Participant number seven, who had a cancerous tumor and a high weight, had started detoxifying his body with the start of vegetarianism, and in this regard, he stated: My tumor started detoxifying and bad-smelling infections came out of it for 14 months, then it improved, my weight had decreased severely, and I reached 47 kilos. Participant number 2 also analogized quitting meat to quitting drug addiction.

Participants used various methods to match the new diet. In this approach, eating four categories of foods was forbidden: 1- meat, 2- bread, 3- rice, and 4- dairy. Participants were advised not to use any cooked food if possible and to use foods with live cells (fruits and vegetables, sprouts, grains). Participant number 12 stated: Another factor that made me continue this path was that I decorated my food, and it was interesting for me, and I took pictures and sent them to raw vegan groups. For the first 6 months, I used to consume fresh lemon every day. What I mean is that my body used to crave sourness a lot at first, but now its adjusted. The body itself demands what it needs more of. I eat very little honey because I believe that natural honey is very scarce and they give sugar and sugar water to the bees, and natural honey that occurs in nature is not available.

Some participants prepared themselves for vegetarianism with their new interpretations of spiritual meanings. In this regard, Participant Seven expressed his experiences as follows, Stress makes the blood acidic, and even if you are an absolute raw vegan, you cannot reach peace because stress prevents human peace. We have a cooked food family, but my spouse is a raw vegan, and we are very comfortable. We do not waste our time in front of the gas stove. We wash fruits and vegetables very easily and do not have the problem of cooking food Now I eat an apple and enjoy it because I see the light of God in it. I think its a waste to hurt myself and inflict the pain I had (before this regimen) and the divine spirit inside me because its a shame to harm the body that God gave you with love.

Participants studied various recommendations for those who chose this approach. Some people recommended a gradual start and uttered that people under gradual methods were less physically and mentally pressured. But in some cases, they suggested starting with health and complete vegetarianism. Participant number four stated in this regard: I recommend that if someone wants to start this method, start by studying. A sick person no longer has the opportunity to start gradually and must start at once, but someone who is not sick or does not have a severe illness should start step by step and diversify into raw vegetarian foods. I made a plant-based cake that looks just like sweet pastry cakes. I even had ear surgery and only used antibiotics for one day and then had herbal teas.

Participant number 3 also states that the spirit must be improved before starting this diet. Participant number 4 also recommends that after 40 days of following the vegetarian diet, the person becomes accustomed to it and says: I recommend that you assume experimentally for 40 days that you are on an island with only fruits and vegetables and start raw vegetarianism. Reading is very helpful.

Participants had different perceptions of the benefits of a vegan diet. They noticed a healthy lifestyle, improved physical condition, improvement in physical illnesses, improved mental well-being, and a feeling of youthfulness.

Participants made fundamental changes in their lifestyles. They were supporters of the environment and animals. Their diet was rich in water and fruit consumption. Participant number 6 stated: Producing one kilogram of meat requires 15,000 liters of water, but less than a thousand liters of water is needed for one kilogram of chickpeas. We have become accustomed to turning on the stove in the morning and then starting our day, which leads to the production of greenhouse gases. Lets not harm nature and live a natural life.

Some participants stated that their ability to exercise has increased with this lifestyle. Participant number 5 stated: When my weight reached 100 kilograms, I started eating sprouts and anything that could be softened, like soaked chickpeas. I used to take herbal supplements to maintain my energy, but now I get the same energy from eating chickpeas. The human body does not need meat, and whenever I eat chickpeas, it gives me the same energy as meat I used to go to Mount Taq-Bostan and carry a 30-kilogram backpack on my back and climb the mountain and then run for 2 hours and then eat 10 delicious meat skewers to regain energy, but then I realized that I was wrong and thought that my output was the problem, but I realized that it was not the case, and I only harmed my body and punished it in various ways. When attending social events, participants brought their own vegetarian food.

Almost all participants experienced weight loss and considered it as a useful point to improve their health status. The clinical symptoms of all the diseases they had were reduced or eliminated in some cases. These diseases included diabetes, cancer, joint arthritis, sexual disorders, varicose veins, and so on. Participant number Six stated: I had arthritis in my neck and a herniated disc in my back, and as soon as I lost weight, my back disc improved, and sometimes I dont even feel the neck pain. Participant number seven has been a raw vegan during pregnancy and describes her experience as follows: I have given birth to a healthy child without any medication during pregnancy, despite having so many diseases, and now I have brought a healthy child into the world without jaundice, but my two older children had problems at birth. This diet had improved sleep, and almost all participants mentioned it. Participant number three stated: I go to bed at 10 pm and wake up at 5 am, a very deep sleep. I used to struggle to sleep with tranquilizers and my eyes closed but my brain was awake.

Another desirable effect of the vegetarian diet was the improvement in mood and mental state. These improvements were mentioned with statements such as improved mood, change in temperament, and reduced irritability. Participant number 7 stated: I believe that cancer patients should not eat cooked food. Whenever I eat cooked food, I become ill-tempered and my pimples come back. Whenever I become ill-tempered, everyone understands I have slipped (eat cooked food). I have found peace with raw veganism and come out with a healthy face.

Another participant also said: I used to be aggressive and short-tempered, but since I became a raw vegan, I have found peace and achieved the right way of life, and even if the worst problems come to me, I thank God. (Second participant). Some individuals also stated that they have undergone a spiritual transformation with this method. In this regard, one of the participants stated: Every human being is 98% soul and 2% physical body. If the soul heals and becomes aware, the body also heals (First participant).

Three participants stated that after starting a vegan diet, their energy has significantly increased and it doesnt tire them out in their daily and work activities, and they feel a kind of youthfulness. Participant number 3 said: I have been a raw vegan for 2 years and all my pains have completely gone, my bleeding has stopped completely, my energy has increased, I conquered the peak, I feel young, and I dont feel like Im 50s at all I feel like Im the same age as my daughters and I dont feel like Im 58 at all.

Another participant mentioned the increase in their energy and said: After eating fruits, our energy goes up, but with other foods, the body gets tired. (Participant 11).

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The perceived experience of adhering to vegan diet: a descriptive phenomenological study - BMC Public Health - BMC Public Health