The Two Most Common Mistakes When Eating Vegan or Plant-Based
Vegan and plant-based diets are hot, and for good reasons.
Cruelty to animals, environmental sustainability, weight loss, reduction of risk for chronic diseases, heart attacks and strokes, or simply to increase energy and brain power - These are some of the reasons we should all consider moving toward a more plant-based diet.
But when it comes to Vegan, Vegetarian and Plant-Based diets, two common mistakes can lead to negative health consequences:
Failing to Address Nutrient Deficiencies:
While a well-planned diet can help ensure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs, it’s essential you are aware of common nutrient deficiencies that can occur when eating this way. When omitting animal and animal-derived foods from the diet, you are at particularly high risk for deficiencies in protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc and essential fatty acids. When planning a vegan diet, it’s essential to incorporate alternative plant-based sources of these nutrients and/or to supplements when necessary to ensure you are not increasing your risk of other diseases and negatively impacting the function of your brain and body.
Depending on Refined or Packaged Foods:
Just because a product is labeled vegan, it does not mean it’s healthy! Refined and packaged foods may indeed be vegan-safe, and even gluten-free, but often this refining or replacement means more simple carbohydrates and low nutritional value.
Why you feel good at first, and then start to feeling worse over time…
As Naturopathic Doctors, we commonly see people who initially feel much better when moving to a vegan or plant-based diet - But over time, develop other health concerns that creep up insidiously due to the slow loss of key nutrients. This typically ironic reversal, from feeling great on what you thought was a health-promoting diet, to feeling tired, sick and having new health issues, is entirely preventable if you are working with trained professionals to customize a precision approach to your unique body and life context.
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