Top 3 Dangers of a Vegan Diet

Top 3 Dangers of a Vegan Diet

Of all the health crazes in past and recent years, the vegan diet is potentially the most dangerous one for our health. While not one exact form of eating works perfectly for everyone, the very real (top 3) health risks and danger posed by a vegan diet are important to understand.

Many people hear the word vegan and mistake it as synonymous with healthy, a big misconception that can lead to serious consequences if a completely plant based diet is followed long term.

Needless to say, getting plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet (especially veggies) is important to achieve optimal health and prevent future disease and degeneration.

However, the human body can easily become deficient in essential nutrients and complete protein on a vegan diet. Here are the top 5 dangers that many people are unaware:

Micronutrient Deficiency

Plain and simple, humans are meant to be omnivores that eat both plants and animals.

While we can (and must) obtain certain minerals and vitamins only from plants, the same goes for key nutrients that can only be obtained from animal sources.

Primary examples are vitamin B12 that is involved in functions of most every cell in the human body, and is only found in animal sources (in fact, studies show that over 90% of vegans are deficient in this important nutrient), alone with creatine, that is essential for creating energy for our cells.

Other examples are carnosine, which protects against degenerative processes and diseases, and DHA, an omega 3 fatty acid that is most bioavailable via animal sources.

Protein and Fat Deficiency

It is extremely challenging for vegans to eat enough protein, as animal sources truly are the ones that offer balanced amino acid profiles, which is necessary for muscle mass, bone health and body composition.

While many vegans demonize the consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol, the truth is that having too low an intake of these two nutrients is actually far more dangerous.

Cholesterol is a key precursor to hormone production and balance, and saturated fats are also needed for healthy hormonal balance and cognitive function. Saturated fats are harder to find in vegan diets but they are plentiful in ancestral diets based on foods humans have eaten for thousands of years.

There are No Health Reasons to Avoid High Quality Animal Products

While many vegans claim that the nutritional benefits of avoiding animal products are vast, really there are no health reasons to avoid high quality animal products.

And don’t just take my word for it, check out this study that found red meat eaters to have a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, or this one that proves dietary cholesterol from eggs does not put you at any greater risk of high blood cholesterol levels.

These are just two of many studies that disprove the claims made by many vegans of the anti-health benefits of animal products, which is simply not true.

No Studies Support a Vegan Diet

No controlled studies show that a vegan diet is better for your health than any other diet. In fact, the low-carb, higher-fat diet model (just the opposite of the vegan diet) has been shown in multiple studies to be far more effective than the vegan diet for weight loss, decreased blood pressure and triglycerides, not to mention it has been shown to be far easier to follow (meaning a better chance you’ll stick to it).

The bottom line is this: while some people might find they feel better temporarily on a vegan diet, this is usually due to a sudden and drastic increase in fresh vegetables and omission of processed foods.

Again, while it’s important to eat plenty of veggies, most people will find that, after awhile, they begin feeling deficient in important micro and macronutrients on a vegan diet. Don’t get fooled by the hype, and rest assured that eating meat and animal products is truly the best thing for your health.

Sourcing Ethical Meats:

If you want to be kind to animals and the earth then search for local farmers who focusing on sustainability and humane treatment of livestock. I buy from trusted sources such as Tropical traditions and US Wellness meats or buy wild seafood from here.

Are you wanting to feel healthy and gave less cravings? Tried veganism but feeling tired and sluggish? You may want to try a 30 day Paleo diet for optimal wellness. Get started here.