From Stroke To Thyroid Lesser Known, Life-Threatening Side Effects Of Plant-Based Diet

Consistently following a vegan diet can lead to many nutritional deficiencies of vitamin B12 and iron

New Delhi: A vegan diet is based on plants and foods made from plants. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

Being one of the most popular diets, being a vegan has a lot of health benefits, which include weight loss, reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering chances of getting cancer, and managing diabetes.

However, there are deadly risks that can result from a plant-based diet.

Side effects of going vegan

According to health experts, consistently following a vegan diet can lead to many nutritional deficiencies of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

A few other health risks include:

Stroke

Vegans are prone to developing stroke even though the diet could prevent heart disease. However, according to a study conducted by Epic-Oxford, different dietary patterns suggest that plant-based diets could increase the risks of stroke by 20 per cent. 1

Cholesterol is always low among vegans and vegetarians, and so, according to health experts, it is unlikely that fat intake is the culprit. And so, researchers say that the prevalence of stroke is mostly due to vitamin B12 deficiency, common among non-meat eaters.

Anemia

Vegans can suffer from pernicious anemia, a type of anemia that happens due to a lack of iron and vitamin B12 in their diet. This B vitamin plays an important role in making red blood cells and is mostly found in meat or animal products.

The lack of oxygen due to anemia causes disruptions in organ functions. The deficiencies also cause the formation of abnormal red blood cells with irregular shapes or sizes.

A few symptoms of anemia include:

Fatigue and tiredness
Pale skin
Lethargy
Dizziness
Breathlessness
Irregular heartbeat

Leaky gut

A vegan diet substitutes plant-based sources of protein like lentils for all animal sources of protein, which if taken in high quantities can cause leaky gut syndrome, due to the presence of phytates and lectin.

Leaky gut syndrome or intestinal hyperpermeability occurs when the tight openings in the intestinal barriers become loose, allowing toxic particles to enter the bloodstream.

It causes illnesses like Crohn’s disease and Celiac disease, apart from disruptions in the healthy working of the guy microflora by causing inflammation and pain.

Thyroid dysfunction

Studies say those who follow a vegan diet for a longer time are more likely to develop hypothyroidism, as well as other nutritional deficiencies.

Iron is one essential nutrient for thyroid hormone production as it converts T4 to T3. 2

Animal products are a rich iodine food source, however, non-meat protein sources like legumes, dairy, grains, soy, and nuts prevent the gut from healing. These foods are reactive and can perpetuate intestinal permeability as well.

Depression

According to health experts, eating a vegan diet consistently makes mood and anxiety issues worse, causing depression.

Studies blame it on vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies, which cause depression symptoms along with eating disorders like orthorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. 3

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.