MeSci
ME/CFS since 1995; activity level 6?
- Messages
- 8,231
- Location
- Cornwall, UK
Hi - well, I don't doubt that you eat a great diet - good for you. It is my view that a huge proportion of people, vegetarian or not, eat a poor diet.
A stricly veg diet in my view has to increase their carb consumption in order to meet their calory consumption, which can be a problem for many based on their choices. Also, often people eat reduced amounts of protein and fat and compounds like carnitine, all which does not help with fatty acid metabolism or the production of many key neurotransmitters.
Please don't get me wrong, I am not saying people shouldn't eat vegetarian, but a strict vegan diet certainly makes things very difficult and without careful planning, it may cause further difficulties.
One reason why a lot of veggies and vegans may not eat healthily is the difficulty of getting healthy vegan/veggie food when eating out, e.g. at work, school, restaurants, other people's homes, etc., and the poor nutritional quality of veggie convenience foods. I think it's very much a cultural thing. Many is the time I have found that there is absolutely nothing for me to eat in a pub or restaurant, and once even at an event where I had been promised that I would be catered for, other than chips ('fries' in US-speak) and/or a bit of salad.
People who are veggie or vegan also need to think 'outside the box' more. Gluten-free/low-grain/low-sugar adds another layer of complication and demands a bit of inventiveness. But I don't find it difficult when at home, and there are some eateries that cater well for me now, even in the relatively-unenlightened Duchy of Cornwall.
But it should still be borne in mind that most scientific studies show that veggies and vegans are at least as healthy as omnivores.