Feeling sluggish, experiencing frequent digestive discomfort, or struggling with nutritional imbalances? Could your vegetarian diet be the hidden cause behind your health woes? It’s time to uncover why vegetarianism might not be as beneficial as you thought and explore how it could be affecting your overall well-being. This article will reveal the surprising truths about vegetarianism and its impact on your health. Here’s what you’ll discover:
- How vegetarian diets might be contributing to unexpected health problems and nutrient deficiencies.
- The common misconceptions about vegetarianism and why they could be impacting your health more than you realize.
- Effective strategies to reassess your diet and incorporate essential nutrients for better health and vitality.
Vegetarianism May Not Be as Healthy as You Think
Many vegetarians are against consuming animal protein. Since 1991, as a healthcare professional with a deep interest in nutrition, I have learned a great deal about dietary habits. Back then, I dated a vegetarian, while I ate a variety of foods, including meat and complex carbs, with burritos being one of my favorites growing up in San Francisco.
Over the years, after talking to hundreds of vegetarians and learning from them, I’ve discovered significant misconceptions, especially among vegans.
Vegetarians often believe that they are saving animals by avoiding meat. Ironically, a vegetarian diet can result in the death of more animals compared to a diet that includes both meat and vegetables. This is not just an opinion—it’s a scientific fact. While there are exceptions, such as those practicing permaculture or in regions like India, where vegetarianism has been common for over a millennium, even there, overall health outcomes are not ideal. For example, around 60% of Indians suffer from diabetes, and their lifespan is often shorter than in places where animal protein is a dietary staple.
Another common belief is that vegetarianism is healthier than a balanced diet that includes both animal and plant-based foods. However, my experience with vegetarian and vegan patients—and those of my colleagues—suggests otherwise. In fact, vegetarians and vegans often exhibit more health issues and symptoms compared to those with more balanced diets. Even those who consider themselves healthy tend to experience a wide range of deficiencies and symptoms.
Red meat, for instance, provides essential nutrients such as iron, methionine, tyrosine, and calcium, all crucial for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, heart and liver function, and the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. Without these nutrients, particularly iron, survival becomes difficult. Many vegetarians suffer from mineral deficiencies because essential nutrients are more easily absorbed from meat, thanks to its fat content. Meat and fat consumption have been part of the human diet for millions of years, supporting brain development and the nomadic lifestyle of early humans, much like buffalo and wolves.
MYTH: Vegetarians don’t contribute to the killing of animals.
TRUTH: In reality, around 300 animals are killed per acre during grain production, often in inhumane ways. By comparison, only one animal per acre is lost in beef production. Additionally, many everyday activities, such as driving, flying, and using certain products, also involve animal-derived materials.
MYTH: The China Study showed that people who eat more plant-based foods are healthier.
TRUTH: The conclusions presented in The China Study book don’t align with the actual findings of the China-Oxford Study. That study showed no clear link between eating more plant-based foods and having better health. The main takeaway was that Americans who consume sugar, processed foods, and red meat together in large quantities tend to be unhealthy. The study didn’t prove any health benefits of a vegetarian diet. If you’re curious, you should read The China Study yourself to see its real findings.
MYTH: Vitamin B12 can be sourced from plants.
TRUTH: True B12 is only found in animal foods. Even many vegans agree that B12 supplements are necessary for those avoiding animal products.
MYTH: Sunlight alone can provide all the vitamin D you need.
TRUTH: To produce enough vitamin D from sunlight, you would need to be naked in the tropics at midday during the summer. Traditional cultures met their vitamin D needs by consuming animal-based foods rich in the nutrient, such as cod liver oil and organ meats like buffalo liver. (Though eating certain organ meats, like bear kidney, can result in vitamin D toxicity.)
MYTH: Your body can get enough vitamin A from plant foods.
TRUTH: The human body converts carotenes from plants into vitamin A very inefficiently, and many people cannot make the conversion adequately or at all.
MYTH: Being a vegetarian will make you live longer.
TRUTH: You may or may not live longer. Health-conscious vegetarians who consume pastured dairy and eggs might live longer than omnivores eating processed and fast food. However, research shows that vegetarians have a higher overall mortality rate and even a higher death rate from heart disease.
MYTH: Vegetarianism protects against cancer.
TRUTH: The evidence for this claim is inconsistent. Vegetarians are more susceptible to cancers of the nervous system and reproductive organs. Soy, a key food in many vegetarian diets, can increase the risk and growth of some cancers, especially breast cancer.
MYTH: Eating meat causes heart disease.
TRUTH: Vegetarians have similar levels of atherosclerosis as meat-eaters and higher homocysteine levels, a major risk factor for heart disease. The main contributors to heart disease are trans fats, refined vegetable oils, and sugar—all plant-derived. Research on the Masai and Samburu people of East Africa has shown that diets high in red meat actually protect against heart disease, promoting heart health.
MYTH: Eating meat leads to osteoporosis.
TRUTH: Meat-eaters do not experience more osteoporosis than vegetarians. Essential nutrients for bone health, such as vitamin D, collagen, and calcium, are either better absorbed or exclusively found in animal products. The building blocks for hormones necessary for healthy bone metabolism come from the breakdown of cholesterol and amino acids, both found in animal proteins. Contrary to popular belief, eating meat supports bone and joint health, helping to prevent osteoporosis.
MYTH: The human body isn’t designed to eat meat.
TRUTH: Humans are built for an omnivorous diet. Our teeth and digestive systems are more similar to dogs’ than to plant-eating animals like sheep. Unlike plant-eating animals, which don’t produce hydrochloric acid and have multiple stomachs and longer intestines, humans produce stomach acid specifically for digesting meat.
MYTH: Meat rots in the human digestive system.
TRUTH: The human body is well-equipped to digest meat, starting in the stomach with hydrochloric acid, which breaks down meat proteins. These proteins are further digested by enzymes in the small intestine, allowing for nutrient absorption. While fermentation does occur in the gut, it’s a normal part of digestion for all foods. Claims about meat “putrefying” misunderstand this process, as normal digestion doesn’t result in foul odors. While bowel movements always have an odor, this is due to the body eliminating toxins, and isn’t specific to meat digestion.
MYTH: Consuming animal products causes violent and aggressive behavior.
TRUTH: There is no scientific basis for this claim. In fact, lower cholesterol levels, often associated with vegetarian diets, are linked to increased aggression and antisocial behavior in humans, monkeys, and dogs. Studies show that low cholesterol (below 160) is associated with a higher risk of suicide, depression, and brain damage.
MYTH: Vegetarian diets are safe for children.
TRUTH: While some children may thrive on vegetarian diets that include dairy and eggs from pasture-raised animals, children on vegan diets tend to have weaker bones and lower mental capacity compared to those raised on diets including animal foods. Vegan mothers often report higher rates of tooth decay in their children’s baby teeth.
MYTH: Animal products are harmful because they contain toxins.
TRUTH: All foods can contain toxins if grown with pesticides and herbicides. It’s crucial to choose both animal and plant foods that are produced without toxic chemicals. The nutrients found in animal foods, such as vitamins A and B12, along with sulfur and zinc, are vital for helping the body detoxify.
There are numerous myths about vegetarianism circulating today, and while this topic can be controversial, the science refutes many of these common misconceptions.
It can be very difficult to help vegetarians with their nutrition. The most valuable nutrients needed for vegetarians come from animal protein. The blatantly obvious reason why this is the case is because these are the foods that are missing from the diets of vegans and vegetarians. For example, Ferrofood is an excellent food for vegetarians and vegans. It is an iron supplement that does not cause constipation. However, Ferrofood contains animal products. Protefood, a protein supplement, is also a great product for vegetarians even at very high doses of 20 pills chewed three times daily. However, once again, Protefood contains veal bone which comes from a cow. Therefore, Protefood is an animal product. Nutrimere is another outstanding protein supplement from Standard Process but it is made from New Zealand Green Mussels which are a type of shellfish. Therefore, Nutrimere is an animal product.
SP Complete Dairy Free is a fantastic product that contains iron and choline and calcium. It is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans and does not contain any animal products. It tends to have a calming effect due to all of the choline that it contains.
SP Detox Balance contains plenty of choline, iron, magnesium and potassium and it has lots of protein. It is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans as it is also free of animal products. Also, it has a fantastic chai flavor that is super tasty. I am pretty sure you will love it. We are all exposed to more poisons and toxins these days then we have been exposed to at any other time in history. This product helps to get those poisons and toxins out of your body.
SP Complete Chocolate contains some whey protein so it may or may not be suitable for vegetarians. Most vegetarians are alright with eating dairy and milk products so they should be alright with this product. It is very tasty. Again, this is a great product for vegetarians as it is an excellent source of protein and other necessary nutrients for a healthy and balanced diet.
SP Power Mix is a super duper superfood drink that is perfect for both vegans and vegetarians. I highly recommend it. It tastes great and there are no animal proteins in this product or other animal products.
Min-Tran is a great multimineral vegetarian and vegan product that can be used to help calm your nerves.
B Vitality with CoQ10 – This is an outstanding whole food B Vitamin Complex supplement that is perfect for both vegans and vegetarians.
Organically Bound Minerals is perfect for both vegans and vegetarians. It is an all around mineral supplement with plenty of iodine from kelp. It does not contain any animal products. A great dosage would be 3 with breakfast, lunch and dinner if you weigh less than 140 pounds and 6 with breakfast, lunch and dinner if you weigh over 160 pounds. It is best if you chew it. If you weight between 141 and 159 pounds then about 4 chewed per meal would be a great dosage. Sensitive people should use less.
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