A New Year’s resolution to go vegan puts you at increased risk of broken bones, mental illness and miscarriage within months, a top doctor has warned.
Around 600,000 people in the UK already follow the diet, which excludes meat, dairy, eggs and all other animal products. And figures suggest that one in eight Britons aged 18 to 24 plan to start the diet – the so-called vegan trend – in January.
But according to Dr. Julian Owen, trauma consultant and orthopedic surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, says veganism can lead to a potentially dangerous vitamin deficiency within a matter of months.
This is because animal products contain vitamin B12, a nutrient essential for healthy body function, but plant foods contain little to none of it.
A New Year’s resolution to go vegan puts you at increased risk of broken bones, mental illness and miscarriage within months, a top doctor has warned (Photo by model)
DR Julian Owen, a trauma consultant and orthopedic surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital (pictured) in Cambridge, said veganism could lead to a potentially dangerous vitamin deficiency within months.
Dr. Owen, chairman of a global group of experts researching the benefits of vitamin B12, says anyone planning to go vegan should be prepared to take a daily supplement. He adds: “It is a vitamin that is fundamental to the functioning of the human body and is almost completely absent in a vegan diet. This is incredibly worrying.
“If supplements are not taken, after six months of veganism, people can develop neurological symptoms such as anxiety, depression and even psychosis – symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.”
Research shows that vitamin B12 is essential for the proper functioning of blood vessels and brain tissue. A deficiency can also cause anemia, a condition in which the number of red blood cells in the body is abnormally low, leading to symptoms such as extreme fatigue and blurred vision.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm for veganism, but also a tremendous lack of education about the need for vitamin B12,” says dr. Owen
Veganism is rapidly gaining popularity in the UK, mainly driven by environmental and animal welfare concerns. Research shows that the number increased by 260 percent between 2007 and 2018, from 150,000 to 542,000.
The trend has been encouraged by celebrities such as Madonna – who revealed she raised her children vegan – but a number of studies suggest the diet can have negative health effects, particularly for young people.
In 2018, a University College London study warned that deficiencies in nutrients in a vegan diet, such as calcium, zinc and high-quality protein, could lead to malnutrition and “irreversible” nerve damage in children.
Last year, experts raised the alarm over the growing popularity of milk alternatives such as oat and almond milk, now consumed by a third of Britons, after government figures showed almost half of all girls aged 11 to 18 were iron deficient.
A study from University College London has warned that deficiencies in nutrients in a vegan diet, such as calcium, zinc and high-quality protein, can lead to malnutrition and “irreversible” nerve damage in children. In the photo: freshly cut celery
Milk is an important source of iron, which is necessary for the formation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Countries such as Spain and Germany are already actively warning parents to feed their children vegan.
In an article published last month in the European Journal of Nutrition, Dr. Owen and colleagues also believe that a vegan diet is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, who are more likely to have low B12 levels to begin with. Studies show that vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with pregnancy complications, low birth weight, preeclampsia and miscarriage.
The paper suggests that vegans undergo regular blood tests to monitor B12 levels in addition to taking supplements. It also advises anyone planning to become pregnant or over 60 to consult a doctor before going vegan.
However, experts point out that a vegan diet, when combined with supplements, has a number of health benefits. Studies show that vegans are less likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes and cancer than meat eaters.
“Eating a responsible vegan diet can be healthy,” says Dr. owen “But at this stage, charities promoting the trend are not educating people about the essential need for B12. That needs to change.”
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
