Liam Hemsworth had long been a proponent of veganism after making the switch the plant-based eating back in 2015, but in this month's issue of Men's Health the Aussie actor revealed he's transitioned away from the diet for health reasons.
"The first two years, I felt great," he says. "I felt my energy was high. I felt like my body was strong, cardio was high, everything felt really good."
However, the 30-year-old says that began to change in early 2019.
"February last year I was feeling really low and lethargic and wasn't feeling good generally," he said. "And then I got a kidney stone."
Hemsworth's ailment was what is known in medical circles as a calcium oxalate stone. The painful stone formed due to an excessively high level of oxalate - a chemical compound found in nuts, spinach, legumes and bran - in his diet. These were foods Hemsworth was consuming in epic proportions. By the time he was hospitalised, the actor's morning smoothie alone consisted of five handfuls of spinach, almond milk, almond butter and vegan protein.
"That was what I considered super healthy and doing the right thing," he says. "I had to completely rethink what I was putting in my body."
While Hemsworth now openly admits his vegan days are behind him, he's quick to recognise that although it didn't end well for him, others may have a different, more positive experience.
"If something works for a period of time, great, keep doing it," he advises. "If something changes and you're not feeling great, then you've got to reassess it again and then figure it out."
Comment: This is a great perspective to have, but unfortunately many fall into dietary dogmatism, possessed by a dietary ideology and are unable to objectively assess their own health and the possibility that the diet is causing their issues.
See: Objective:Health #43 - Diet Dogma - When What We Eat Becomes Our Identity
The episode involved a complete overhaul of his diet as he took stock of what he put into his body. It included an almost six-month stint of sobriety.
"I want to have optimal health at all times," he says. "I want my mental health to be strong and I want my body to feel good."
Lauren Williamson is the Digital Content Manager for Women's Health and Men's Health. She's an experienced journalist, editor and social media fiend who's well versed in reporting on everything from food trends to fitness, health news to haircare. She has a double degree in Journalism and Political Science.
dark green leafy things, such as kale and spinach,
anything spicy,
any citrus fruit,
anything with added vitamin c, (most processed foods)
dairy,
tea, (both kinds), AND coffee,
nuts or nut products, including chocolate,
legumes,
beets,
no from concentrate juices,
no dark sodas,
been on this diet for almost 30 years. had a chicken egg sized calcium oxalate stone (when i was 16) surgically removed.
one of the biggest things is to avoid urinary tract irritants, or things that make you have to pee. they make a slight swelling with further diminishes the flow of the calcium oxalate particles through your urinary tract. and drink way more water than you would otherwise if you eat any of the aforementioned foods, to make sure you have good flow through your kidneys as they process the particles out. It is almost like sand that forms (the crystals) if you don't flush em out they all lump together into a stone. most stones have spikes on them that poke you and cause bleeding and lots of pain.