Is Going Vegan Healthier?
Is Going Vegan Healthier?
People often tell me the eat vegan because it is healthier.
Many people assume that just because they are not eating animal-based foods, it automatically makes their diet better or healthier.
Not necessarily.
One of the first things I ask when a client tells me they are going or eating vegetarian of any type is “why”?
Now, this may sound judgy, but it isn’t.
As a dietitian, it is helpful to get the perspective of the client and their reason. Health reasons, ethical reasons, trends, a boyfriend/girlfriend is vegetarian – the reasons vary as much as the person.
This way, I can understand how “strict” they are or get help with their mindset.
My dad told me about someone he met who told him that she had been vegan for the past eight years. She was stirring the creamer in her coffee, telling him this. He pointed this out – her creamer wasn’t a vegan choice.
He says that she isn’t vegan anymore. I say she never was since she was using half and half/creamer the whole time.
There isn’t anything wrong with it, though. If you eat dairy or eggs, you are not vegan.
Vegetarianism occurs on a spectrum:
Vegan is not the food of animal origin, including honey.
Lacto-Ovo includes dairy and eggs but no other foods of animal origin.
Pescatarians include dairy, eggs, and fish.
Semi-vegetarians include dairy, eggs, fish, and poultry.
Finally, flexitarians choose not to eat meat regularly but will have meat on occasion.
And within all of those, there are still variations based on the person.
But I also tell people that they can choose however they want. There is no vegetarian food police or club where they will get arrested or kicked out for now, following the rules.
Like the woman who claimed she was vegan when she used cream. What was wrong with it? Only claiming to be something you aren’t. She chose to leave the vegetarian community – though, as I said, she wasn’t a part of it in the first place.
Some people won’t eat beef or pork since it upsets their stomachs, but pork does not have the same effect. Not vegetarian, just someone who doesn’t eat one type of food.
Now the reasons people go vegetarian vary as well.
Some people do it for weight loss, and it works for them – but it isn’t a weight loss diet or plan.
Some people do it for health, like to reduce their risk of heart disease. It isn’t necessary. The overall lifestyle, not one type of food, affects heart disease risk. And saturated fat, the fat more associated with heart disease, is found in plant foods too.
Some people do it for ethical reasons – to reduce the harm to animals. Fine.
Others will do it for environmental reasons – and reducing meat consumption is one of many ways to help the environment. I also remind people to reduce their impact in other ways.
Now for those vegetarian foods being healthier? Maybe.
Of course, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and whole grains are healthy when appropriately prepared.
And here are five other foods that also fit into a vegan diet:
Oreos
Fritos corn chips as well as many chips without cheese (cheese flavoring)
Pop-tarts without frosting
Thin Mint Cookies
Ritz Crackers
And there are many more, including soda.
Additionally, as I have mentioned, the milk alternative is not all equal to dairy products and is often very low in protein, and has a long list of ingredients.
Vegan cheeses are highly processed and have a long list of ingredients, and are not nutritionally equal or even close in nutrients.
And these meat alternatives that are growing in popularity are not healthier options and have a very, very long list of ingredients.
So, going vegetarian? Okay – but I always remind people to be informed and be sure when going vegetarian, one still needs to make healthy choices.
If you would like to address your overall eating and be healthier while reducing your intake of animal-based food, or not, let’s talk.
