One of the most modern approaches to better health and a longer life is the vegetarian or vegan diet. The basic concept to both is simply to remove all animal-based products and foods from the diet, resulting in a person consuming only plant-based products. However, while very similar, they are not exactly the same. The two dietary approaches have their own pitfalls in terms of nutrition and health.
The difference between the two
The key difference between a vegan diet and the various types of vegetarian diets is that the former emphasizes a complete and total removal of all animal products from everyday use. This includes the use of it in clothing, as well as any incidental animal products that occur in foods like gelatin.
On the other hand, the typical vegetarian diet may allow dairy products and certain foods which are either based on or contain trace amounts of animal-based ingredients. Some variations of vegetarian diets also make allowances for the consumption of fish or poultry, acknowledging the human body’s need for actual animal protein – something that a purely plant-based diet is unable to provide.
Health benefits
A vegan diet and its less constricting counterparts have a number of health benefits. There are numerous claims that the consumption of animal fat and protein is damaging to long-term health due to the increased risk of degenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Weight loss programs have also noted that a diet that eliminates animal protein entirely tends to produce individuals with lower body weight and body mass index. Blood cholesterol was also found to be lower in these people.
Nutritional concerns
The core concern with the vegan diet is the nutritional deficiencies that can arise from it. Vitamin B12 is not reliably produced by any plant used for human consumption, and a long-term deficiency can lead to more risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Iron deficiencies are also common, as plant-derived iron is not as efficiently absorbed by the body. This lack of iron is leads to anemia. Calcium is also present in dangerously low levels in a vegan diet, such that it can increase the risk of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Some statistics also show that broken bones recover more slowly without animal-based products in the diet. There are nutrients that must be supplemented, depending on what is not available in the local vegetable market.
Overall, a vegan diet may be helpful in promoting better health, but some people may be turned off by the sheer amount of additional supplements that are required to make sure the body does not become deficient. Some have also complained about the difficulty of the diet, as it requires incredible discipline. A vegan diet is not just a change in what one eats, but a drastic adjustment in terms of lifestyle that should not be taken lightly.
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