One of my colleagues asked me to do an interview on the benefits/risks of going vegetarian or vegan. This is always a hot topic in the nutrition world, so we wanted to share that interview with you.
Have you ever tried to be a vegetarian or a vegan?
Yes, in 2004 I was vegan for 9 months. I ate a Macrobiotic diet as part a long-term, slow detox from sugar, caffeine and animal products. It was incredibly healing. I was able to balance out my weight, moods, digestion and energy levels effortlessly as well as drastically improve my relationship with food. However, I know that my body in particular runs optimally when I do incorporate animal protein so now I routinely eat fish, turkey, eggs and goat milk products- keeping most other animal foods to minimum.
What are the major health affects of being a vegetarian?
Better digestion and energy levels and a slower aging process. Animal meat is largely acidic, and an over-acid condition contributes to weight gain, inflammation, and indigestion- and has been linked to providing a climate for Cancer. More often than not meat is overcooked, which leads to free radical damage of our cells and premature aging. Animals these days aren't being fed what they would naturally choose to eat, and are being pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. These combined factors cause a host of issues in humans like hormone imbalance, diabetes, and weak digestion.
What are the major health effects of being a vegan?
I do not preach any one diet for anyone, but all of us can benefit from eating from vegan time to time. It allows the body to rest from foods that take the longest to digest. There are pluses and minuses to being a vegan. The health benefits are an overall cleaner body -that is if you are eating plants and whole foods, not processed junk foods. A plant based diet allows for adequate fiber, even energy levels and moods, enhanced digestion, and a calmer and more expansive internal operating system. What are the major nutrients that vegans and vegetarians are missing from their diet? Vitamin B12 – all vegans should be supplementing with a sub-lingual B12. Vitamin B12 is found in shellfish and dairy products and it is an essential vitamin that helps maintain healthy nerve and red blood cells. It is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. All vegetarians and vegans should be eating beans/legumes, nuts and seeds on a regular basis to get the other nutrients that they need to sustain a healthy body and mind.
What would you recommend to someone who is trying to cut out animal products from their diet?
I would recommend do it slowly. Start with red meat, butter and cheese. Those are the worst offenders because of saturated fat and the ones that will make the biggest positive impact when they are gone. After that, I would recommend getting used to eating raw nuts, seeds and legumes. If someone plans to go completely vegan, I would recommend soaking nuts and seeds to increase their protein content by 2/3. My biggest recommendation is to make sure to eat whole foods, because I've seen vegetarians/vegans eat meat substitutes and other unhealthy alternatives that do not improve the quality of their health and well-being.
NOTE: Christa is no longer in private practice.
