What essential nutrients are found in animals products(meat, eggs, dairy) and not in anything else?

Question

B-12? Two cups of non-dairy milk can give 100% of the RDA for B12.

It's not hard to find a vegan B12 supplement with way more than enough of it.

A very significant of meat eaters are also deficient in B12, eating meat doesn't fully protect you against anything.

Protein? Are you kidding? Every single thing that I eat contains protein. I eat TOO MUCH protein. If wheat gluten is the only thing that i ate I MIGHT create a problem by getting unbalance protein, but I don't so their is no possibility of it.
There is no caution needed. Foods that are consumed can balance out amino acids that were consume nearly a week ago.

Hey me, don't you live in Chicago? I think I heard that it isn't the most veg-friendly town. Don't try to talk smack about vegan food until you come to the Bay Area and actually experience it, nowutomsayin?

Come on man. I'm a fukkin pig. You don't think that I would go through life without the good sh!t, do you? You just need experience or a great restaurant to see where the flavor is.

Hate to burst your bubble, but plants don't get B12 from animal feces. It is produced by naturally occurring bacteria. If it was only produced by animal sourced bacteria, there wouldn't be any vegan B12. Animals just build it up in their flesh until slaughter by eating UNWASHED plant foods. People will only eat clean food these days. That is why vegan people need B12, because they don't eat all of their food straight from the ground or plant before washing it.

Me - I wasn't suggesting that you be vegetarian, just to not assume anything about vegan food.

"it is obvious from the link that natural bacteria do not produce enough B-12 for daily requirements"

Sorry, but I never said that it did. Many people that do eat meat, dairy and eggs are also deficient in B12 and guess what, most of the people that get enough eat fortified breakfast cereals. All people over 50, vegers and meaters alike, are encouraged to take B12 supplements.

Answer 1

The nutrient that it is hardest for vegans to get is B-12. Virtually all B-12 is from animal sources.

Answer 2

The only possible deficiency MIGHT be B12, but if a vegan eats fortified foods (like the soymilk) or takes multivitamins, s/he should not have such a problem. I drink two packets of Emergen-C Super Energy Booster four or five days a week--way more than enough vitamin B12 than I need.

Answer 3

I had blood work done about a year ago, found that my B12 and folate levels were fine, but I was low in iron. I was eating a lot of dark greens, and fortified cereal sometimes, so I was surprised.
My doctor suggested red meat or supplements.
I take a supplement now.

I have no way of knowing if the low level was because I don't eat meat, or just the way my body chemistry works.

Answer 4

I am an omni and I do not take or have been told by my doc that I need to take supplements. My vegan and vegetarian friends do. Some are under the care of a nutritionist and are always advised to take supplements because of some deficiency in their diets. Not really sure what they are but i will ask.

Answer 5

Taken from

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html

"The only reliable unfortified sources of vitamin B12 are meat, dairy products and eggs. There has been considerable research into possible plant food sources of B12. Fermented soya products, seaweeds and algae have all been proposed as possible sources of B12. However, analysis of fermented soya products, including tempeh, miso, shoyu and tamari, found no significant B12."

" Vegans are recommended to ensure their diet includes foods fortified with vitamin B12"

There is some prove to say that B-12 found in plants comes from animal sources anyway as B-12 is formed by gut bacteria in many animals and hence then they cr*p over the land they release leases the bacteria and B-12 which then gets absorb by plants or it coats them.

"Human faeces can contain significant B12. A study has shown that a group of Iranian vegans obtained adequate B12 from unwashed vegetables which had been fertilised with human manure. Faecal contamination of vegetables and other plant foods can make a significant contribution to dietary needs, particularly in areas where hygiene standards may be low. This may be responsible for the lack of aneamia due to B12 deficiency in vegan communities in developing countries."

Taken from the above link again.

However I have to say if vegans need to fortify there food then it can't be natural for them.

"Hate to burst your bubble, but plants don't get B12 from animal feces. It is produced by naturally occurring bacteria."

Hate to burst your bubble too but the Vegsoc says that animal feces contain a good source of B-12 (but like hell I'm doing to eat them) and it is obvious from the link that natural bacteria do not produce enough B-12 for daily requirements.

"Sorry, but I never said that it did. Many people that do eat meat, dairy and eggs are also deficient in B12 and guess what, most of the people that get enough eat fortified breakfast cereals. All people over 50, vegers and meaters alike, are encouraged to take B12 supplements."

In that case there is something wrong with there diet, anyone who has to take supplements is not eating a well balanced diet.

Answer 6

None. Anyone who says otherwise is

a. An individual unfamiliar with a cruelty-free lifestyle and ignorant of the most up-to-date scientific information or
b. A multi-billion dollar corporation backed by animal industries who push their clients' agenda and kick back millions in payment every year.

I've been a vegan since conception, as have my brother and sister, and we have never even had a cold. It's so ironic thar our "health" is questioned, but never that of someone who eats a McDonald's Burger, biggie fries, and milkshake every day.

Answer 7

Another nutrient is balanced and complete proteins. Proteins from individual plant sources (vegetables, grains, nuts, etc.) are incomplete, so a strict vegetarian has to be careful to eat a variety of these foods on a regular basis in order to get all the proteins necessary to maintain and build healthy bodies.

A B12 supplement will take care of its low availability in a vegetarian diet, but this is harder to do with proteins.

Answer 8

Nothing, of course. Omnivores forget that they get some of their nutrients from fortified products as well (vitamin d added to milk, for example.) B12 is the only concern and it's added to enough foods that it's readily available. And you have a point about meat eating not protecting anyone from nutritional deficits. There are two humans in my household, one vegan (me) and one omnivore. One of us had a B12 and folate deficiency and a mild case of anemia because of it - surprise, it's not me! (He had an h.pylori infection - the bacteria that causes ulcers - and wasn't keeping enough food down to meet his needs - all taken care of now.)

Anyone who says protein is profoundly misinformed! That gibberish about carefully combining proteins is 20 years out of date.

Answer 9

Flavor. For me, flavor is an essential nutrient.

What does <3 mean?

EDIT: I am in Chicago and it's meat, potato, vegetable here mostly. I've always eaten meat and it doesn't bother me at all. I've got more important things to worry about.

EDIT: I was commenting more just on the Chicago thing. The flavor thing wasn't serious anyways.

Answer 10

There aren't any. Krister your avatar scares the sh*t out of me but I think you're great... just thought I'd share that with you :o)