6 Things to Know Before Considering Full Time Veganism
In the last few years, more and more people have moved to a vegan diet. Over 682,000 people took part in Veganaury 2021 and across the country, people are now thinking of ways they can cut back on the animal products in their diet.
Becoming vegan has become a big trend. On Instagram, we're seeing thousands of vegan influencers sharing their meal prep, recipes and "healthy" or "green" lifestyles. But the problem is, being vegan isn't always the best choice!
Obviously, there will be people who love being vegan, and if it works for them, and they’re genuinely happy with this way of eating with no guilt, shame, superiority complex or depriving themselves of food they love then that’s great – I have no problem with personal preferences. As with all diets and lifestyles, it’s about doing what works for YOU and seeing what you thrive on.
Being vegan is a personal choice; maybe you simply don’t like eating meat, you’re intolerant to dairy, or you avoid animal products for religious reasons. But for so many people, the pressure to be vegan can do a lot more harm than good and a restrictive diet can be really problematic!
As more people turn to this diet, there’s increasing expectation to ditch meat for health or environmental reasons – and sometimes the facts get twisted. So if you’ve been thinking about transitioning to a vegan diet, here’s what you should know before committing to a change…
1. A VEGAN DIET WON’T HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS
There are so many toned influencers sharing their vegan recipes online that we’ve been led to believe that veganism is the best way to shed those extra pounds. When truthfully, no specific diet will help you with weight loss!
If you want to lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit, which means it doesn’t matter which diet you go for. Whether that’s vegan, paleo, keto, Mediterranean or raw, you won’t see results unless you’re actually eating fewer calories.
It’s simply not true that being vegan will automatically help you lose weight. So if that’s your number one reason for switching, it’s important to know that other options may suit you better. After all, it’s much easier to stick with a diet and see long-term results if we’re actually enjoying what we’re eating, right?!
2. BEING VEGAN CAN GET EXPENSIVE
The second thing to consider with a vegan diet is the cost. This is a diet that can get pretty pricey because you HAVE to take regular supplements to stay in good health. Things like calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iron are all hard to get in a plant-based diet, which means you’ll need to artificially add supplements or fortified foods to get all the nutrients your body needs.
B12 deficiency, in particular, can be a real problem for vegans – this is a vital vitamin for body function and low levels can cause symptoms from fatigue and anaemia to permanent nervous system damage.
3. A VEGAN DIET CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN
As with any diet, there are things to consider like your body type, pre-existing health conditions, genetics and lifestyle. Everyone is unique and what works well for one person, might not work for someone else. There are some people who thrive on a vegan diet and won’t encounter any problems. But for others, a vegan diet simply won’t work.
With a vegan diet, it’s possible your body won’t absorb the nutrients due to several factors. An example of this is vitamin A, where, unlike animal products, plant foods don’t contain it in its pure form (retinol). Instead, they contain something known as beta carotene, which has to be converted by the intestine and liver to make retinol. The problem is, about 45% of the population don’t respond well to beta carotene and therefore can’t get any vitamin A from a vegan diet!
Lower absorption can also be caused by low thyroid function, compromised gut health, alcoholism and liver disease – all important things to consider before switching to a vegan or restrictive diet. Plus, you can also be at risk of other serious health issues on a vegan diet depending on your gut microbiome, starch tolerance and metabolism.
4. PROCESSED VEGAN FOODS ARE HARMFUL
In any diet, it’s important to eat as many nutrient-dense, wholefoods as possible. And in a vegan diet, this can become difficult. The reason is, for a lot of vegans, their diet consists of plant-based “junk” foods which are quick meat substitutes.
The issue with these types of foods is that they’re heavily processed, they lack vitamins and nutrients, and they also contain harmful substances like excess salt, sugar, oil and additives! Consuming processed foods like these regularly can cause serious health problems over time. So if you’re wanting to go vegan? Make sure you eat whole plant foods and prepare as much of your food from scratch with healthy, home-cooked and varied meals.
5. MANY VEGAN FOODS ARE IMPORTED
I’m guessing you’ve heard the claims that being vegan is good for the environment. But with the vegan diet, you need to be mindful of what you’re really consuming – for example, air-transported fruit and veg can create more greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram than eating poultry!
As well as this, the demand for vegan staples such as quinoa and avocado has pushed prices up and therefore made them unaffordable for the locals who depend on them. If your goal with being vegan is to make a difference, it’s important you consider how you can source locally, rather than relying on heavily imported foods.
6. BEING VEGAN ISN’T ALWAYS THE GREENEST CHOICE
A HUGE reason why more people are going vegan is to ‘save the planet’. But leading on from the last point, veganism isn’t the sole solution to climate change. Yes, aspects of a plant-based diet can help, but it’s definitely not the full story and there are often a lot of things that are overlooked.
A big argument for veganism is that animal agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and that cattle farming uses a significant amount of land – often claiming this is the main cause for deforestation. However, a lot of sustainable farms make the most of land that wouldn’t otherwise be suitable for plants or other ecosystems!
And as well as this, many staple vegan foods such as soy and wheat are grown in monocultures which deplete the soil and destroy diverse habitats. Not to mention they involve issues of GMO crops, fertilisers and transportation. So just as meat eaters should consider the implication of heavy beef consumption or feedlot farming, vegans should also consider how their diets can play a part in climate change and eco problems, too.
Choosing the Best Diet
The problem with the move towards veganism is that it shows everything in a black and white way. We’re told that by eating more plants, we’re playing our part in helping the environment and that we’re nourishing our bodies because vegetables are good for us.
But in reality, there’s SO much more to a healthy and sustainable diet than that. I’ll always be an advocate for balanced, nutrient-dense diets – not just for health reasons, but also for the benefits for your lifestyle and the impact it has on the greater community!
Suffering or restricting yourself with a diet will never be a good option – so if that’s how the vegan diet makes you feel, then it’s probably not for you! And if you’re feeling guilty about your food choices and how these can affect the environment, there are other simple and EASY switches you can make instead – such as buying local produce as much as possible, reducing your food waste significantly and opting for organic alternatives instead. All of which are worth trying before throwing yourself into a vegan diet or depriving yourself of the foods you might really love.
