Fitness

Five Reasons You Should Not Switch Over To Being A Complete Vegan

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4 months ago

July 7, 2024

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Five Reasons You Should Not Switch Over To Being A Complete Vegan

Updated Jul 7, 2024, 11:37 IST

As promising as the health benefits of a vegan diet are, it is not without any drawbacks. According to experts, eating just plant-based foods can cause various deficiencies that lead to diseases and illnesses, which can be life-threatening. Read on to know what they are.

There are many reasons why giving up meat and dairy could be detrimental to your health

If you believe being vegan is healthy, think twice! Often touted as a healthier alternative to eating meat, a vegan diet is based exclusively on eating plant foods.

According to Healthline, veganism is defined as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Many people choose to follow a vegan diet for various reasons, which include ethics to environmental concerns, but they can also stem from a desire to improve health.

However, experts say there are many reasons why giving up meat and dairy could be detrimental to your health. Apart from causing hemoglobin deficiency, a vegan diet can also increase the risk of many ailments and diseases, detrimental to your good health.

Deficiency of vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is among the most important nutrients in your body which helps create your DNA and red blood cells. It also helps develop your central nervous system and keeps your hair, nails, and skin healthy. Found commonly in red meat, eggs, fish, and milk, all of which are prohibited in a vegan diet, vitamin B12 is critical for normal brain function.

However, according to experts, most health conditions developed by vegans are related to vitamin B12 deficiency. Without the familiar sources of this nutrient, many bodily functions get disrupted, leading to anemia, gastritis, stroke, Crohn’s disease, and Celiac disease.

According to experts, vegans are prone to developing stroke considering the diet itself could prevent heart disease. Studies say plant-based diets could increase the risks of stroke by 20 per cent mostly due to the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, which is common among non-meat eaters.

Anemia is caused by to lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin. According to doctors, anemia is a potential health risk that comes with a completely plant-based diet.

Doctors say vegans can develop anemia through the deficiency of iron – an essential mineral in the formation of red blood cells and lack of adequate vitamin B12 and folate. It causes symptoms like:

Fatigue and tiredness
Paleness in your skin
Lethargy
Dizziness
Trouble breathing
Irregular heartbeats

Leaky gut syndrome

A leaky gut syndrome or intestinal hyperpermeability happens when tight openings in the intestinal barriers become loose, allowing nonessential and toxic particles to enter your bloodstream.

Even though the direct cause of leaky gut is yet to be identified, diseases like Crohn’s and Celiac disease are associated with increased intestinal permeability. Therefore, a critical influence in the development of this condition is diet. Plant-based diets largely consider legumes like lentils, peanuts, and soybeans as primary protein sources in place of meat.

Many people following a completely vegan diet suffer from mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which lead to mood alterations influenced by shortages in brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Experts say nutrients from your diet play an important role in the formation of these neurotransmitters, including omega-3 fatty acids, folates, vitamin B12, zinc, calcium, iodine, and iron. However, the absence of meat in plant-based diets that usually supply these macromolecules can trigger symptoms of depression.