Disadvantages of a Vegan Diet

A vegan diet can do a lot of good for your heart, keep your waistline smaller, and even prevent diseases. Unfortunately, going vegan isn’t guaranteed to be all sunshine and roses. Many of the studies advocating the advantages of a vegan diet only give correlational suggestions rather than scientific proof. Before you decide to revamp your diet, consider some of the negative aspects of being a vegan as well. Here’s a look at the disadvantages of eating vegan.

The restrictive nature of a vegan diet may actually lead to weight gain.

If you find a vegan diet to be easy, you may not be doing it right. Filling up on oreos, french fries, and frozen vegan dinners is not going to help you lose weight or be healthier. You have to be willing to not only avoid animal (by)products but embrace plant foods. Those living on sugar and starch, sometimes called “junk food vegans,” are probably the most likely to suffer from the disadvantages of a vegan diet.

A vegan diet tends to lack several key nutrients.

One of the biggest concerns of a vegan diet is not receiving several key nutrients found in animal (by)products. Protein is the most discussed, particularly as insufficient protein can eventually lead to iron deficiency. While this is the key concern in a vegetarian diet, vegan diets also leave out things like calcium, Vitamins D and B12, creatine, carnosine, and omega 3 fatty acids/DHA.

Luckily, you can generally take supplements to ensure your body is sufficiently provided for. If you have any pre-existing conditions that require careful monitoring of certain nutrients (such as osteoporosis), be sure to talk to your doctor before starting a vegan diet to ensure you aren’t missing out.

The change may not be right for your body.

A drastic change may be hard on your body. Some people have allergies or intolerances to particular plant products (like wheat or soy) that can make it even harder to find good alternatives. If you don’t convert to veganism slowly you may find that your body has trouble digesting these different forms of protein, resulting in some serious gastrointestinal discomfort until you do.

Sticking to such a diet can be tough on your wallet and social life.
Following a vegan diet can be hard–living a vegan lifestyle is even harder. Many cosmetics, soaps, clothes, and accessories are made of animal products, and unfortunately it can be pretty costly to find a vegan version. This same problem may translate to your food choices — even some sodas contain gelatin or dyes made from certain insects.

Additionally, while it is generally easy to find a vegetarian option at a restaurant, very few places have vegan options. Dinner parties may become difficult to navigate, and significantly fewer people may come to yours. All in all, being a vegan is a huge commitment and you may find yourself putting a lot more effort into meal planning than you’re used to. But if you’re determined, being vegan can be a great option.

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