Even If You Eat Meat…

Even vegan cows make B12

There are many nutritional deficiencies that can be mistakenly associated with being a vegan.  In my opinion, the top three are Diabetes, Anemia, and B-vitamin deficiencies, more specifically B12.  It is important to know this: these three medical concerns can happen to someone regardless of whether or not animal products are included in the diet.   As you may or may not know, a vegan is someone that does not consume anything from an animal.  No meat (including poultry and fish), dairy, eggs, or anything that is derived from an animal.  Often times non-food items which are free of animal by-products are incorporated into a vegan lifestyle. 

What some people may not realize is that everybody, vegans and non-vegans, should obtain regular blood tests from his or her doctor.  The doctor will run a blood glucose test that involves a brief fast for the patient, and test iron levels and such.  It is also a great idea to get a CBC with differential done.  This stands for Complete Blood Count and is used to test for reactions to inflammation or infections, characteristics of blood cells, hydration status, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, anemia and leukemia.  If you feel so inspired, get a complete chemistry profile done to test cholesterol, levels of calcium and albumin (a protein in the blood) and even levels of Blood Urea Nitrogen (often referred to as the BUN test! HA) The infertility clinic I used to work at did these all the time and is a simple procedure, worth checking out and using to your own benefit with the intention of staying informed of your personal health.  If the BUN levels are high, then it’s a good indication that the kidneys are on overload.

Being vegan can be beneficial to the kidneys in that they don’t have to process such large amounts of protein.  It’s possible that society overlooks the inconveniences that meat imposes on overall health–constipation, indigestion, anemia, kidney problems, etc.

This eventually begs the question of why are cows vegan (naturally anyway, unless factory farm feed contains recycled downed cows) and yet their meat and products contain B12?  And why then do people that eat cows still become anemic?  Or diabetic?  B12 is a by-product of bacteria produced in the intestines of the animal.  Cows graze on pastures which contain natural bacteria that keep the colon of the animal in working, healthy condition.  I find it very beneficial to use a multi-cultured probiotic several times a year to keep my intestinal flora healthy and create my own B12 while also keeping my skin clear.  Probiotics also have been known to boost immunity.

Addressing the issue of anemia: In my past clinical practices, my clients have used liquid chlorophyll to obtain usable iron in the body.  This helps tremendously if humans consume the plant sources of iron…after all, this is where the “food animals” get it from.  Unless the source of meat being consumed is veal, an infant cow.  These animals are made anemic on purpose and kept that way to achieve the results farmers are looking for: tender, pale meat.  But in the end I have to ask myself: If I were to eat an anemic animal, wouldn’t I eventually be susceptible to anemia?

Yes, vegans have to be nutritionally cautious.  Watch your calories, make sure you are getting enough.  Watch your protein, get at least 35-40% of your body’s weight in GRAMS per day.  Watch your sugar, try to keep it less than 20 grams per day.  Obtain enough good fats, including EPA and DHA.  And on the flip side, if you do eat animal products, be nutritionally cautious.  Watch your calories, make sure you aren’t eating too much at once, otherwise in the long run you may have diabetic tendencies (sometimes it’s inherited).  Watch your sources of dairy, artificial hormones can be your worst nightmare, especially in children.  Be aware of how much dairy you consume, it is an inflammatory food and can contribute to headaches and allergies.  Watch your amount of protein, as too much can create kidney concerns and worsen arthritis.  And of course, no matter what you eat, be sure to grab some leafy greens everyday, get at least 6 servings of vegetables, and always watch out for your levels of B12…the bacteria in our colons vary as much as we do.

NOTE: For those of you interested in eliminating meat, be sure to check out the non-meat recipes by browsing through www.veggieedge.com