I get this question about veganism periodically, or sometimes it’s actually more posed as a statement that a vegan diet (a diet that contains no animal-based foods at all) is optimal for health. Before I go into the health question, let me first state that for those who choose veganism on moral grounds because they believe it is wrong to kill or exploit animals for food, I applaud your dedication to your beliefs. Living a vegan lifestyle does present its difficulties, and I have the utmost respect for vegans who have adopted that lifestyle on a moral basis.
Be that as it may, the question I am discussing today is whether a vegan diet is the healthiest choice for human beings or not. While I believe that the majority of Americans and people in developed nations probably consume more meat and dairy than is ideal, and that the excess consumption of these foods is probably at least part of many of the common chronic degenerative diseases we face, I do not believe that a vegan diet is ideal for most people either.
From a strictly physiological standpoint, there are a few fundamental facts that suggest that humans are designed to consume animal-based foods.
The first thing is that humans require Vitamin B-12 for normal blood cell production and normal neurological function. To get adequate Vitamin B-12 from dietary sources alone requires the consumption of animal-based foods. Yes, there are a few plant-based sources of B-12 that have been proposed, but the quantity and absorbability of B-12 from even the best of plant sources is simply insufficient and impractical.
Some have argued that humans are designed for meat consumption because of our dental structure (we have canine teeth). I don’t agree or disagree with this position. While it is true that we possess canine teeth, I think our dental structure alone is not enough to determine for sure that we are or are not designed for meat eating.
More compelling to me, besides the Vitamin B-12 issue, is that our digestive tracts contain an enzyme (collagenase), which is ideally suited to digesting collagen – a protein only found in meats. Collagenase would be unnecessary for vegetarian protein digestion, and therefore suggests to me that our bodies are designed to consume and utilize animal proteins.
But even if our bodies are designed to consume and utilize animal-based foods, the question remains as to whether or not veganism is healthy. The answer to that I believe depends on how one is practicing veganism.
I have known a few vegans who never ate any kind of animal-based foods, but they did eat a whole lot of junk food. There are vegans who survive mostly on chips, refined carbohydrates, and coffee (or something with caffeine to help keep them awake during their hypoglycemic crashes). This way of practicing veganism is decidedly unhealthy, and it sets the practitioner of this dietary style up for diabetes, obesity, and various chronic inflammatory disorders.
But the vegans who are consuming mostly organic fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, and whole grains are usually quite healthy, particularly if they are careful to balance their protein and carbohydrate intake, avoid excessive amounts of soy, and supplement with Vitamin B-12. I would guess that this type of vegan has to work at it to keep things in balance, but if they do, they will probably avoid most of the chronic degenerative diseases that afflict people in developed nations.
The question of whether veganism is the ideal dietary approach I think is still in doubt and is probably somewhat determined by the biochemical balance of the individual. I have tried veganism in the past and despite my best efforts to balance my protein and carbohydrate intake and use good quality nutritional supplements, I had a very difficult time maintaining good energy levels and keeping up my muscular strength and endurance. I feel considerably better when I consume small to moderate amounts of animal-based foods with most meals.
Despite my personal experience with veganism, I know some people who do quite well with a vegan diet and they are among the healthiest people I know, but probably not any more healthy overall than those people who consume small to moderate quantities of naturally-produced (hormone and antibiotic-free) animal products. And while those who do eat good diets that include animal products have to put some effort into maintaining their healthy diets, I believe it is less complicated and less difficult than maintaining a healthy version of a vegan diet.
Stay tuned to my blog for more on healthy lifestyle.