Are you too trying to go vegan as part of this New Year’s resolutions? If yes, please think twice. Because Dr Julian Owen who is a consultant of trauma and an orthopaedic surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge says that this trend could be dangerous in the long run. What dangers does he foresee?
Vegan diet and its associated problems
There has been a lot of debates and discussion on animal food eating. And most of the people are now tilting towards a vegan lifestyle. This implies plant based foods with no meat or dairy or eggs. The reasons cited for this switch and veganuary lifestyle are many. These include prevention of chronic health diseases, cancer, obesity and such metabolic disorders. Moreover, advocates of this diet feel that this diet is good for the planet as well as the animals. They want to avoid animal cruelty.
600000 youths in the UK are already vegan. And 1 in 8 young Britons have plans to adopt veganism as part of their this new year’s resolutions. They want to take up this lifestyle from January. And this trend is called veganuary.
Dr. Julian Owen (Source: Cambridge University hospital)But Dr Julian Owen, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, the UK warns of the potential dangers ahead with this diet. This trend is a risky one and can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, broken bones, depression, other mental illnesses and miscarriages.
Dr. Julian Owen and his warning on veganism
Julian explains that animal foods have a lot of vitamin B12 packed in them. But this is absent in plant foods. This vitamin plays vital roles in the body functioning. And lack of it could create havoc in the body. The doctor is doing research on vitamin B12 and alerts people to be ready to have this vitamin supplements if they want to go for veganism this year. He opines:
“This is a vitamin that is fundamental to the function of the human body, and it is almost entirely absent from a vegan diet. That is incredibly worrying.”
“If supplements are not taken, after six months of going vegan, people can start to experience neurological symptoms such as anxiety, depression and even psychosis – symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency.”
Veganism (Source: Sentient media)It can cause megaloblastic anemia with tiredness and weakness. He adds:
“There’s lots of enthusiasm for veganism, but also a huge lack of education about the need for Vitamin B12.”
From 2007 to 2018, veganism rose 260% from 150000 to 542000. Celebrities like Madonna are promoting it. But the diet comes with a lot of health risks. This is particularly so in children who have increased demands for several nutrients.
Other ill effects of veganism
A University College London 2018 study showed that vegan diet lacks in calcium, zinc, and high quality proteins too. And this could cause irreversible nerve damage in growing kids. People are opting for dairy alternatives such as oat or almond milk. A third of Britons are drinking them and half of young girls in 11 to 18 age group suffer from iron deficiency anemia now. Milk is a great source of iron and kids not on it could suffer with its deficiency.
Read here: Bear Grylls: is anti-vegan diet claiming that it tanked his health during his Covid 19 infection!
Veganism and how to avoid nutritional deficiencies (Source: Health Vision)Julian studies showed that the diet is dangerous for pregnant mothers. It could lead to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, miscarriages, and low birth weight babies. Julian concludes:
“‘A responsible vegan diet can be healthy.”
“But right now, charities promoting the trend are not informing people about the essential need for B12. That needs to change.”