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Wednesday, May 23, 2007

UPDATE! Top 10 Reasons The Vegan Diet (Will) MIGHT Kill You

UPDATE! In the interest of fairness I must say that those of you who wrote in to make your case concerning the safety of the vegan diet, when undertaken with due diligence to insure all the proper nutrients, have made a good point. The Vegan Diet will not necessarily kill you. It MIGHT kill you if you don't know what you are doing and fail to eat the variety of food necessary for good health.

But then again, any diet might kill you. Eating the way I do could be deadly if I fail to address the potential problems inherent in high protein-low simple carbs diets. Thus, the vegan diet is no more deadly or unhealthy than any other.

It is important to note, as some of you have mentioned, that some societies have survived very well on vegetarian diets of various kinds. In like manner, the Eskimos in the Arctic region have survived very well by eating nothing but what they had available--fish that were high in fats, and other animal proteins indigenous to the region.

I want to say it has been fun debating this issue with all of you from the vegan message boards. I wish you all the best in your quest for good health.


Washington, DC (TLS). New research from several major universities strongly suggest that the vegan diet might kill you. Here are the top 10 reasons why:

1. Vegans are not as healthy and do not live as long as their meat-eating counterparts.

2. Vegans are at a much higher risk for developing massive strokes.

3. Eggs and certain species of cold water fish contain valuable complete protein and monosaturated fats that help PREVENT heart disease.

4. Vegans are more likely to show higher blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes.

5. Diets that are based upon eliminating certain categories of foods, such as the vegan diet, can lead to striking imbalances in essential nutrients, such as iron.

6. Vegan diets are usually extremely low in fats, some of which can help prevent inflammation, arthritis, and other degenerative diseases.

7. Portions of the world population where the diet is limited to meat and fat, such as Iceland, and the Arctic, exhibit strikingly more robust health and longevity than those populations that eat strictly plant-based foods. Of the world's most disease-laden cultures, where lifespans are shockingly short, most of these cultures subsist solely on a plant-based diet.

8. Nobel Prize winning biochemist Linus Pauling discovered in the 1970s that higher blood sugar levels is the main cause of heart disease, and NOT cholesterol and fats. Plant-based diets contribute to a spike in blood sugar due to the absence of fats and animal proteins.

9. The latest studies show that persons who eat a low carbohydrate diet over the course of a year exhibit more heart-healthy indicators in their blood-panel than those who eat a strictly vegetarian diet.

10. Overweight patients lost more weight and kept it off longer on lower carbohydrate diets than did those who ate a meat-less fare, such as the Pritikin or Ornish plans.

Remember to check with your doctor before starting any new diet or exercise plan. And remember to eat your veggies and fruits like your grandmother told you, but just don't eliminate the meats and good fats. Balance is the key.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

It really is all about the balance. However, a few questions perhaps?
First, when comparing the differences in life-span, incidence of disease and conditions, such as in points 1, 2, and 4, are the differences statistically significant? I'm sure they are, but including the actual variance and sample and sample sizes would go a long way towards a more concrete argument.

Anonymous said...

Using dietary facts to argue against veganism is the same as using them to debunk any religion. I don't think anyone has ever entered into veganism for the health benefits. Most probably took their vegetarianism to its most logical feasible point (although plants being organisms points to only the consumption of rocks - or voluntary human extinction - would be sufficient to meet the logical extreme). I personally think that veganism is the manifestation of a disturbed and nihilistic mind but one that is not ready to make the necessary sacrifices implicit in their ideology.

Anonymous said...

excuse me? i'll have you know that veganism is fabulous for you. i've recently decided to try it and i feel great about my body. i ask you to please reconsider next time you decide to hate on my kool aid. thanks.

Anonymous said...

Hah, I thought this was a joke. I've been vegan for six years. Not dead yet. It's pretty sad if anyone takes this seriously, veganism is not dangerous.

Anonymous said...

Phil- I became vegan because of health reasons - my high cholesterol and high blood pressure went down dramatically in the first 6 months. After my last physical (blood tests included), my (non-vegan) physician said "you're healthier than 99% of the population and the only thing I can tell you to help your health is 'make sure you wear your seatbelt'".
It's ironic that a web site that prides itself on "liberty" posts such myopic, biased drivel.

Welshman said...

Your insulting comment notwithstanding, I notice that never once did any of you mention anything about the facts, the studies, the science, that show eating meat, healthy fats, etc. will not kill you.

All you have is your emotionally-laden fad diet, almost a religious devotion to it regardless of any facts that may prove you wrong.

But, since I do believe in liberty, you can eat whatever the hell you want, unhealthy or otherwise.

And since you do not get to tell me what to eat, I will continue on my carnivorous ways, thank-you.

Martyn
forever spouting the 'drivel' of liberty...

Anonymous said...

High IQ link to being vegetarian:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6180753.stm

Welshman said...

Those of us with exceedingly low IQs obviously were doomed by the fact that as infants we sucked on our mothers' tit and a bottle filled with cow's milk.

We are truly envious of the privileged few who were not treated to such fare, and thus, now compose that portion of society that possesses an IQ that would make Einstein envious.

Wonder what Einstein ate. Or Galileo. How about Thomas Edison.

I'm sure they all detested anything that came from an animal source.

Hey, do you think if I start now eating rabbit food that I will be a genius like you by the time I retire?

Anonymous said...

Life will kill you.

How can any commentors respond to studies you have alluded to when you have provided no links or references so that we can actually read it?

Anonymous said...

Come on, surely someone as brilliant as you could figure out that googling "benefits of a vegan diet" will produce hundreds of studies touting said benefits. Of course, many of them will link to veg-friendly sites, just as many of yours will link to meat-friendly sites.

I've done research on both sides of this issue and the only certain conclusion I can come up with is that most researchers slant their findings to prove their point (or their funder's point).

So I prefer to rely on my personal perspective and experience. I had high bp and cholesterol. Research told me that a vegan diet would "cure" that. After adopting a vegan diet, my bp and cholesterol dropped precipitously. I'm in excellent health, terrific physical shape, and feel better than I used to when I was not vegan. So for me it makes sense.

And since you mention Einstein... "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." Albert Einstein

Guess it made sense to him too.

Welshman said...

Yes, but that statement still does not indicate what Einstein actually ate and what he was fed growing up.

I disagree with him on the 'evolution' to the vegan diet.

Glad to hear your vegan plan works for you. Many others have experienced the very same remarkable recovery from high cholestrol and triglycerides eating meats, good fats, and low carbs.

To each his or her own.

Anonymous said...

I think there are two reasons why people are not taking this seriously. Firstly, you say that this is a list of why veganism will KILL you. That's difficult to take seriously as vegans, because we obviously aren't dead if we're posting here. Secondly, you don't say what your sources are, then complain that other people aren't posting their sources. As others have said, by googling you can get answers, and there are many sites dedicated to vegan health and fitness, with many shining examples of healthy vegans. If you acknowledge that vegans can be healthy, and not die from veganism, then the very title of this article is inaccurate - and should be "10 reasons why it's possible to follow an unhealthy vegan diet if you don't eat healthily". But the same is true of any diet - veganism in itself doesn't dictate a decline in health or death.

Anonymous said...

I did a Google Scholar search for "health vegan" and found lots of studies of the benefits of a vegan diet. Note, I didn't google "benefit" or any other positive word. I just used health so that I would get the positive and negative stuff. It was nearly all positive.

Do you have the references for your blog entry so that we can look at the studies?

Welshman said...

No, I don't have the studies right here at my fingertips. My views are based on many studies published over a period of time, the latest being reported by various news organizations that show after a year on a low carb, high protein diet, patients lost more weight, lowered their blood pressure, stabilized their blood sugar, had lower cholestrol and triglycerides than those after a year on a purely vegan diet.

Cardiologists agree, including those who authored the books 'Sugar-Busters,' and 'The South Beach Diet.'

However, my own cardiologist confirmed their findings. He says his patients do much better on a diet consisting of meats, mediterranean-type fats (olive oil, etc), omega-loaded fish (salmon, sardines, etc.), low-glycemic vegetables and grains.

The problem with purely vegan diets, he says, is that the high fiber produces excess gas, patients tend to excrete nutrients before they are adequately absorbed by the body, imbalances in protein (it must be a whole protein like one finds in eggs), and higher blood sugar levels which lead many older adults to develop type II diabetes.

But you guys do your own research. I am not doing it for you.

A strictly vegan diet is unhealthy...and in time will kill you.

SCVegRunner said...

There is no way that a meat eater has lower levels of cholestrol than a vegan. You do know that cholestrol comes from animal fat right??? And that Vegans don't eat any animal products. If someone is on one of those high protein diets they are without a question going to have higher amounts of cholestrol than a vegan. And cholestrol leads to all types of health problems just in case you forgot.

High protein and low carbs is good for you. Think about Atkins. What happened to him? HE DIED of HEART DISEASE. Animal fat leeches calcium from your body and consuming too much proten is bad for your liver. Your liver has to work harder to break down animal derived protein than other foods.Yes people lose weight on them and their blood sugar stables themselves out (because the body turns carbs into sugar and they don't consume them) same with blood pressure. Plus people who go on these diets gain the weight back as soon as they get off the diet while veganism is more of a way of life than a diet.

In time ANYTHING will kill you even your diet consisting of meat. How many times do you hear doctors and other experts say eat less meat in particular red meat and fatty meat? Now compare that with the times you hear them say eat less fruits and vegetables.

Experts tell you to your face that consuming these foods causes health risks and it's obvious by the high number of people who have these diseases obsesity being one. It's like smoking you know in time it will kill you but you do it. They tell you the same with meat consumption. Dietary facts show this and people still refuse to give up meat,dairy etc because it tastes good right.

I don't think people should starve just so someone can have a steak. It takes 7 lbs of grain to get 1 pound of meat. Cutting your meat consumption by 10 percent not only benefits yourself but other less fortunate than you as well as the enviornment. But you couldn't bare to do that because it tastes so good right.

Vegans are vegans for various reasons animals, the enviornment, health as well. Are they unhealthy vegans yea because they don't eat right. But not all of us are many of us are athletes (myself included), politicans , entertainers and so on. There are unhealthy meat eaters too that don't eat the way they should. In time we will all die so why should it matter to you if people care enough about themselves, others, animals and the enviornment not to consume certain products. A lot of people have the wrong idea about veganism and what it is and people are quick to shun it because it isn't familiar and they don't know anything about it. Then the media throws these frail, unhealthy bag of bones looking vegans in everyones face and people assume we all look like that well we don't. Just as all Americans aren't fat and lazy as oversea countries protray them to be. Hopefully one day you will be able to see the benefits and not be afraid of something you don't really know about and really educate yourself on these issues. Until then if you want to eat meat go right ahead. I hope your untruths don't scare someone off that maybe considering making a positive change in their life. You could equally do a list for a traditional meat eater as well. With the rate of obesity and all the health problems (with animal fat being a common factor ) people are having you would think you would want to do something about it now. Sure you may not have problems now but 20 years from now it could be a different story. It's worth consideration!!

Welshman said...

Perhaps you need to bone up some on your biochemistry and physiology. The cholestrol in our bodies is not there because we eat meat but because we make it. It is naturally occuring in the human body, and without it we would die.

I issue you a challenge to provide one single scientific study that proves healthy-eating vegans are any healthier or live any longer than healthy-eating carnovores.

Eating a balanced diet, including meats, is not deadly. Elimination diets can be VERY deadly, however.

When we eliminate certain food substances from our normal fare, our bodies do not get vital nutrients they need to sustain health. It is quite that simple.

This is Physiology 101. I would suggest you go back and take the class over before infesting anybody else with these half-truths of yours.

Anonymous said...

In reference to one of D. Martyn Lloyd-Morgan's earlier posts, it's worth pointing out that Thomas Edison was also vegetarian.

It's fair enough you don't believe that the correlation between vegetarianism and IQ necessarily implies causation either way, because that would be stupid. But I would have checked that the examples I was going to use were actually supporting my point.

Anonymous said...

I really thought that this was a joke. It doesn't surprise me, however, because no matter what we do as a vegan community; there will always be those of you out there that find a way to make us sound bad. Any person who believes your "Top 10" obviously needs to do some actual research, as do you do.

chloe said...

hahahahah this is hilarious, i didnt read any of the other comments because i was laughing so hard over the incorect and insufficient and absurd little list of yours.
It amazes me how un-informed and zealous people can be in the face of something they dont understand or feel threatened by.

B.A.D. said...

Odd.. I've been vegan for 6 years and haven't been sick since, brought my bmi down to normal, reduced my blood pressure and cholestrol to the perfect rating, got ride of my low iron and calcium issues i've had since childhood and am in perfect health.

Just out of curiosity, where did you get your missleading facts on this diet? I would suggest you look into some serious research on a vegan diet, perhaps checking out The China Study a great resource or current(and global) nutrition. Also becoming vegan is a great book to read if your interested in nutrition/vegan eating.

Hope you have a nice day
luv
B.a.d.

Anonymous said...

YOU posted this blog. So it should be YOUR responsibility to support your statements...not ours to refute them.

Anonymous said...

"The cholesterol in our bodies is not there because we eat meat but because we make it."

Perhaps you need to bone up on your physiology - while the human body does produce cholesterol, to imply that consumption of animal products is not a source of excess cholesterol in the body is both naive and incredibly misinformed. It frankly concerns me to read this, since you have taken it upon yourself to interpret medical studies...

Speaking of which, I think its fair to say that the kind of claims you make in your "Top 10," being contrary to many accepted ideas of nutrition promoted by various medical organizations, should be accompanied by a strong list of references. And the fact that you not only did not include these references, but then could or would not produce them upon request, is extremely irresponsible given that you have also taken it upon yourself to give what amounts to medical advice.

As for a study linking illness with animal product consumption, how about decades of study compiled into one huge body of work - The China Study, perhaps? While the study has limitations, as all scientific studies do, this book ultimately identified 8000+ associations between dietary factors and disease.

The fact is that you and I could pick and choose studies to debunk each other all day long. And you could probably find some ammo, because for every scientific idea, there is at least study (slanted or suspiciously funded, though it might be) to support it.

I am not vegan, and this entry does not upset me on a personal level. What upsets me is someone doling out scientific ideas without giving any studies or an idea of their background, because there are issues with any study and interpretation is a key to reporting the accuracy of the findings. I would venture that you are not a scientist, as I know of no reputable scientists who would be so sloppy as to imply that a diet would "kill" you, much less to refuse any references to allow their interpretations of studies to be questioned. At the very least, you've done a poor job of handling your criticism and I think your lack of scientific credibility should give us all (vegan or not) grounds to take your dietary advice with a grain of salt - which is totally vegan.

Anonymous said...

1-2) Sources missing. If you're referring to IGF-1 downregulation in low fat vegan diets, guess what: Vegan diets aren't inherently low fat. Moreover, what's true for populations in Asia needn't be true for other ethnic groups. Low IGF-1 decreases the risk of developing certain cancers.
3) Eggs and fish get their omega fatty acids from algae and flaxseed.
4) High blood sugar levels don't cause diabetes, though obesity can.
5) Dairy can cause iron deficiency, as manufacturers of iron supplements like to point out. It's fairly easy to meet your iron needs by eating whole grains.
6) Nuts and seeds are low fat? Cooking oil is low fat?
7) Correlation doesn't equal causation. Those stats probably refer to extremely poor regions without access to healthcare, sufficient calories and more.
8) Linus Pauling says so, so it must be true? Argument from authority much?
9) Reference? Again, low carb does not have to include eating meat.
10) See above.

Welshman said...

Just read the two books I have already mentioned which contain the studies showing that diets consisting of meats and fats do not necessarily lead to dire consequences.

Populations indiginous to the Arctic Region have survived for centuries with no carbs. And their longevity rivals that of any healthy population on earth.

It is clear that if one has a religious-fundamentalist styled adherence to the vegan way of life, no amount of reason or research can change a mindset that is set in concrete.

But hey, knock yourselves out over it. Eat what you like. I believe in freedom of choice. What I detest are those vegans that try to shame me away from eating meat.

I really don't care what you eat. I will expect to be shown the same courtesy.

Anonymous said...

Sugar-busters and The South Beach Diet are your references? I can only assume this is a joke or a misunderstanding. Even if they cited actual scientific sources in those books, you certainly didn't state ideas from the books without reading the actual studies yourself, did you?

Oh, and I think its fair to point out that some of those responding are not vegan or haven't identified as such, and thus the "you can't be swayed because of your mindset" attitude is a bit presumptuous.

Face it, this was an irresponsible post that you didn't follow up on effectively. Its not an argument of whether meat-eating or veganism is better, its an issue of whether bloggers should be reciting pre-interpreted scientific studies as fact.

Welshman said...

Nice way to avoid the real issue. Both Sugar Busters and South Beach cite numerous studies that validate their claims. Have YOU read them?

The fact that you would turn this into a nitpicking match over whether or not I read the studies cited in those books is certainly not a mark in your favor.

In addition, this is not a scientific blog but specifically an opinion blog about politics and government...and an occasional opinion about other matters. I don't have to provide anything other than what I choose.

And who are you to tell me that I cannot interpret scientific data? That is highly presumptuous given that you know nothing of my background or history, not to mention that it displays an attitude of elitist snobbery.

The post in question also specifically states that before beginning ANY dietary program, one should consult with their own physician.

This does not mean that I am not entitled to an opinion on matters about which I have done a significant amount of reading and research.

Further, the fact that you hide your identity is highly suspicious.

Thus, from now on I will allow no more comments to this post unless I get a name and an email address. The email address will not be published.

Several of you have betrayed your supposed 'neutrality' on this issue by the religious fervor with which you opine about veganism.

As I said, that's fine. Knock yourselves out. Just don't expect me to buy it.

Heat said...

"4. Vegans are more likely to show higher blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes"

There are an estimated 70 million people in the US with diabetes or prediabetes. I didn't know there were that many vegans.