So this is healthy?

Question

A Review of Recent Scientific Papers Related to Vegetarianism

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, FADA
On the other hand, 58 percent of strict vegans and 34 percent of moderate vegans had a vitamin B12 deficiency, based on the concentration of vitamin B12 in their blood. They also had high concentrations of homocysteine, a substance that has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Elevated homocysteine can be caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. The elevated homocysteine concentrations seen in these vegans may explain why death rates from heart disease tend to be higher in vegans than in lacto-ovo vegetarians. Vegans should strive for an adequate vitamin B12 intake, both to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency and to reduce risk of heart disease.

Waldmann A, Koschizke JW, Leitzmann C, Hahn A. 2005.
German vegan study: Diet, life-style factors, and cardiovascular risk profile. Ann Nutr Metab 49:366-72.

Answer 1

Yeah. Might want to have a occasional soft boiled egg with that bowl of brown rice!

Answer 2

Homocysteine is associated with high inflammation and can occur in any diet, not just the vegan/vegetarian diet. It is a myth to assume, however, that all vegans/vegetarians eat healthy as some do eat processed foods, such as soy, tofu, cookies, cheesecake, candy, etc.

While the study does state that vegan/vegetarians have high homocysteine levels, it does not compare the homocysteine levels to those on a meat eating diet. What does high mean? At the same time, how large was the study?

Answer 3

Don't believe everything you hear honey. I've been a veggie for 7 years. I don't drink cow's milk and limit my other dairy consuption greatly.

90% of those studies discrediting a veggie diet are done on people who ate meat before they started the study and all of a sudden when into a veggie diet. You need to be fully educated on how to stay healthy and eat right on a veggie diet. We have a seperate food piramid from meat eaters.

About half or more of people become veggie due to health reasons. People that health conscious make sure they are getting enough of the vitamins and minerals. Don't ya think.

All you have to do to get enough vitamin B 12 is eat something like tofu or a fortified soy milk or other kind of milk every two weeks. That's it.

These people in your study most likely had no clue of how to properly stay healty on a veggie diet. It's not hard if you have the right knowlege. These people also probably had a vitamin B 12 defiency already running through their family. If nothing else the do make B 12 vitamins. You cannot do a study on people who are not fully aware of all the things you need to do to properly be a healthy veggie.
If you did a study on me about being veggie the finding would look something like this.... perfect blood pressure, no early signs of heart disease, overall exceptional health.

Answer 4

Okay, hold on. You are only releasing part of the report. This information is based off a geographical study that observes vegans in various countries not the over-all population fo vegans. This study reported the results of vegans in Germany only. Germany was the only recorded country to experience these results which is why it was published. Again this article is in regards to the unique findings of vegans in Germany.

Answer 5

I'd be interested in a study of deficiencies of almost every type of nutrient BESIDES B12 in meat eaters, since so many of them eat almost no fruits or veggies-I bet it would be an eye opener.
It just goes to show that there are basically 2 kind of diets: healthy and not healthy.

Answer 6

And its soooo hard to get b12 into your system. I think this study was about retarded vegans. I think you should be more concerned with the scientific papers written about the health risks on *******, cause you will be shocked whats going to happen to you. Cheers

Answer 7

Yeah I read the same thing, It's nothing new though, vegans being deficient in b12.


I get my b12 from energy drinks, smart balance buttery spread, morning starr chik nuggets, raisin brain cereal, etc. NO b12 deficiency here!

Answer 8

Ahh, Ashley #3. So you're against vegetarians and Vegans now? Make sure you let your friend with the leather purse know about this.

Answer 9

While you were reading, did you also find the millions are articles that link red meat to heart desease ?

We can all find articles and "evidence" to back up our beleifs.

Some choose to use information constructively, othere use it to troll.

Germany has one of the lowest rates of veganism. Why would they be experts, and why are thier findings transferrable to other communties ?

Answer 10

Wow, B12 is so hard to come by in the developed Western world, isn't it?

Answer 11

So why is it that people who eat meat are always trying to criticize vegetarianism? Like all diets, healthy vegetarianism requires you pay attention to what you eat and maybe to take a vitamin or two to fill in the gaps.