Vegan Diet Problems

I kept hearing about veganism and was intrigued by the whole idea and concept of this diet and lifestyle. I researched a little about it and came up with a little about vegan diets. There are many beneficial facts, but these don’t go without the accompanying vegan diet problems.

What is Veganism?
People who follow a vegan diet consume only plant based foods. They do not partake in meat, poultry, eggs, fish, milk and milk products, and honey. These people do not use leather, silk, fur, wool, soaps and cosmetics made from animal products. The most common reason why people turn towards veganism is the moral or ethical commitment towards animal rights, the environment, or religious and spiritual reasons. The term ‘vegan’ was coined by Donald Watson. A vegan diet is also referred to as being a ‘strict or pure vegetarian’. It is a subset of vegetarianism. However, there are many problems related to a vegan diet. Let's read on further about them.

Vegan Diet Cons
Often, it is noticed that people who follow a vegan diet lack a number of essential nutrients. Read on to find problems with vegan diets.

• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Vitamin B12 is not regularly found in plant food. Vitamin B12 deficiency has many major health problems, like anemia, neuro-degenerative disorders. In lactating mothers, deficiency of Vitamin B12 causes neurological disorders in children.
• Calcium Deficiency: Studies have shown that vegans are more at risk of fractured bones than their meat eating, non-vegetarian counterparts. A vegan diet is very low in calcium, which gives rise to this problem.
• Vitamin D Deficiency: Vegan diet is also low in Vitamin D. It maintains bone density, helps in healthy bone growth and also in maintaining normal functioning of the nervous system. Lack of Vitamin D hampers calcium and phosphorus absorption in the body. Hence, there are rising cases of osteoporosis amongst followers of vegan diets. At the same time lack of Vitamin D can also increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer. Children on vegan diets are more prone to rickets.
• Deficiency of Iodine: In many countries around the world, animal products are used to manufacture iodine. Therefore, vegans shun iodine. However, iodine deficiency causes goiter and hypothyroidism. Soy products are emphasized in vegan diets, but a lot of soy products also leads to deficiency of iodine. If a pregnant woman follows veganism, her child is at high risk of impaired motor function, a lower IQ level and stunted growth, caused due to iodine deficiency. It is important that women who are lactating, pregnant or considering pregnancy, take care adding iodine in their diet. For the unborn baby, iodine is available as folate.
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids: A commonly seen deficiency in vegans is omega 3 essential fatty acids. This acid is important for brain functions, behavioral functions as well as normal growth and development. Omega 3 fatty acid is essential to prevent diseases like heart disease, arthritis and cancer. Deficiency of this acid during pregnancy can cause vision and nerve problems in the child.
• Low Birth Weight: Research has shown that mothers on vegan diet deliver low birth weight babies.
• Malnutrition: Several cases of infant malnutrition and death due to malnutrition have been reported due to a vegan diet.
• Iron Deficiency: Anemia and iron deficiency rates are higher in people who follow veganism. This is because iron from plants is not absorbed in the body as well as the iron from meat. Iron absorption is inhibited due to the fiber, phytates, and oxalates present in a vegan diet.

With so many vegan diet dangers are you really willing to change over to veganism? In case you want to follow a vegan diet, you should take the required supplements to take care of your nutrient needs and avoid vegan diet problems.