Veganism Isn't As Healthy As It's Advertised To Be, Increasing Likelihood Of Anemia, Stroke, And Depression
There's always a handful of diets that are popular in American culture. Veganism is currently one of them. We're told by the media, experts, and celebrities that it's a diet that brings people health and longevity, but it turns out that it's a diet that can actually make your health decline.
We've been told for a long time that eating meat causes heart disease (it doesn't) and the best alternative is to go plant-based. Various experts tell us that the vegan diet is full of heart-healthy foods that will help us lose excess weight, give us all the nutrients we need, and promote longevity. With documentaries like The Game Changers and Forks Over Knives rising in popularity, it can be difficult to determine what is true information and what is just propaganda peddled by world health organizations that are promoting veganism. But many recent studies suggest that going plant-based can actually harm your health more than help it.
Veganism Isn't as Healthy as It's Advertised to Be, Increasing Likelihood of Anemia, Stroke, and Depression
Unfortunately, many people who adopt veganism end up eating a highly processed diet full of artificial ingredients and sugar. But even people who eat a healthy plant-based diet could be leaving themselves vulnerable to a number of health issues. For example, a 2019 study found that vegans are twice as likely to suffer from anemia than meat eaters. Vegans also struggle to get enough nutrients in their system, such as vitamin B and iron.
A British study of 48,000 people found that vegans are three times more likely to suffer a stroke than people who eat meat. This is speculated to be associated with the lack of vitamin B12 in their diet, which is also linked to irreversible nerve damage that can cause feet and hands to go numb.
Vegans are also at a higher risk of developing bone fractures, due to a calcium deficiency. A 2020 study found that people who eat plant-based are much more likely to have a hip fracture or ankle injury, also due to a calcium deficiency. The Game Changers told its viewers that athletes' performance suffers from eating meat, but studies show the complete opposite to be true.
The rapid weight loss that can happen with veganism also leaves people more susceptible to injuries. When we fall, we need a certain amount of cushion to protect our bones and joints and a study of 26,000 women and 8,000 men found that vegans, after five years of following the diet, were 30% more likely to suffer a fracture than meat eaters. Consuming supplements regularly improved these odds and provided more protection, though.
The vegan diet can even cause people to suffer from depression. A study in Brazil found that vegans were twice as likely to be depressed, even if they had a similar nutrient intake to people who ate meat. This is very likely linked to the lack of vitamins and nutrients that vegans experience in their diet.
All in all, it doesn't seem like the vegan diet is really all that worth it, especially if you eat a diet consisting of high-quality animal products that have been consciously raised and grass-fed.