New research is bad news for vegans — even if you eat plant-based proteinStory by McKenzie Beard Hold the tofu. New research suggests that vegans may be more likely to suffer from nutritional deficiencies than their meat-eating counterparts. Worse still, scientists found that even vegans who hit their daily protein goals with plant-based sources often fall short on two essential amino acids, putting their health at risk. Plant-based diets are packed with produce, but some key nutrients may be missing. PaeGAG – stock.adobe.com In the US, an estimated 1% to 5% of the population follows a vegan diet, which eliminates all animal products, including meat, dairy and eggs. Over the years, researchers have found that following a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, as well as help with weight management. In fact, one study found that eating a vegan diet can improve your health in just four weeks. But meat-eaters have long argued that animal products provide essential nutrients — particularly proteins, vitamins and minerals — that are tough to get in sufficient quantities from a plant-based diet. A new six-month study out of Australia might just support that claim. Meat is a rich source of protein and also provides essential nutrients such as iron, zinc and B vitamins. puhhha – stock.adobe.com Researchers tracked the diets of 240 adults, aged 30 to 75, ranging from strict vegans and dairy-eating vegetarians to good old-fashioned meat lovers. As expected, the plant-based group consumed far more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts compared to their meat-eating counterparts, while also being more likely to avoid sugary drinks and junk food. Vegans and lacto-vegetarians also had higher intakes of fiber, folate, magnesium, vitamin E, iron and omega-6 fatty acids compared to meat eaters. However, the same groups were also deficient in several essential nutrients. Compared to meat-eaters, vegans and lacto-vegetarians consumed “significantly less” protein-rich foods. They also had lower levels of vitamin B12, iodine, niacin, riboflavin and omega-3 fatty acids. “[Plant-based diets], while higher in beneficial nutrients and wholefood groups than regular meat-eaters, may lead to nutritional inadequacies if not planned appropriately,” the study authors concluded. Researchers say plant-based eaters need to be extra mindful about getting all their essential nutrients. EdNurg – stock.adobe.com Think you’re getting enough protein on a plant-based diet? Don’t get too comfortable just yet. Researchers in New Zealand analyzed the diets of nearly 200 long-term vegan Kiwis and found that about three-fourths of them met the daily recommended protein intake from plant-based foods like tofu, lentils, legumes and meat alternatives. But here’s the twist: once digestion was factored in, only about half of the participants were getting enough of two essential amino acids — the building blocks of protein — called lysine and leucine. Leucine is key for making protein and growth hormones, and it plays a vital role in muscle growth and repair, wound healing and blood sugar regulation. Lysine, on the other hand, is crucial for hormone production, energy, and calcium and immune function. The problem for vegans, researchers explained, is that only a small fraction of the already low levels of these amino acids in plant foods is being absorbed by the body, while the rest is simply passed out. Meat alternatives pack protein, but not all of their amino acids are absorbed by the body. Sundry Photography – stock.adobe.com “Achieving high protein quality on a vegan diet requires more than just consuming enough protein,” the study authors wrote. “It also depends on the right balance and variety of plant foods to supply all the amino acids in the quantities that our body needs.” Prolonged deficiencies in lysine and leucine can disrupt protein balance, hinder muscle maintenance and affect other vital functions, the researchers warned. These risks could be even greater for vulnerable groups, like elderly vegans. The researchers are calling for further investigation into how vegans can boost their intake of leucine and lysine in a nutritionally balanced way. In the study, legumes and their seeds were found to be the top contributors to overall protein and lysine intake. However, some experts caution that the findings from the New Zealand study should be taken with a grain of salt. Professor Tom Sanders, a nutrition expert at King’s College London, pointed out a few limitations, such as the lack of an omnivore group for comparison. He also noted that the study didn’t account for the role of gut bacteria in lysine production and relied on self-reported data, which he said can be less reliable. ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/new-research-is-bad-news-for-vegans-even-if-you-eat-plant-based-protein/ar-AA1DeUyd?
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12382257/I-lost-121LBS-year-following-CARNIVORE-diet-cut-grocery-bill-60.html
I lost 121LBS in a year by following the CARNIVORE diet - and it also cut my grocery bill down by 60%
By RAVEN SAUNT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
UPDATED:
A woman has revealed how she lost 121lbs in just one year after switching to the carnivore diet.
Amanda Lipstate, from Bellingham, Washington, has been candidly sharing her weight-loss transformation on social media after deciding to turn her life around.
The physical therapist, 33, said that she 'was in the depths of despair' when she weighed 360lbs and was keen for things to change.
Now, at 239lbs, she has revealed how her whole lifestyle has improved as well as claiming the switch in diet has helped cut her grocery bill by 60 per cent.
Amanda has said that she had been overweight since she was a teenager and was plagued with a whole host of health issues.
She told Newsweek that she was diagnosed with scleroderma - a rare autoimmune disease - aged 18 before also being told she had Raynaud's phenomenon - which impacts blood vessels in the hands and feet, sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
The quick succession of diagnoses left her battling with 'severe depression and anxiety' which often meant she 'wouldn't leave the house for months at a time.'
By aged 32, she weighed 360lbs, had type two diabetes and needed the aid of a walker to get around.
She wrote on her blog: 'For two decades of my life, I carried the weight of struggles that came with being obese.
'I battled against my own body, trying countless diets in the pursuit of transformation.'
But in June 2022, Amanda made the decision to turn her life around once and for all - and quickly landed on a solution.
She told the publication: 'What prompted this change was going to the hospital in severe pain thinking I was going to die.
'While sitting in the hospital bed I remember looking over at my husband and it struck me that all my choices in life had led me here.
'The next day, I went home and we got rid of all of the sugars and carbs in my house.'
Her blog post read: 'It was in the depths of my despair that I stumbled upon a revelation that would alter the course of my life forever - the carnivore diet.'
Amanda decided to make the switch to the regime which sees followers typically eat just meat, with no carbohydrates, vegetables, fruit, grains or nuts.
But she revealed that at first the transition wasn't easy, adding: 'I'd been eating the standard American diet for my entire life.
'I had to fully accept and understand that eating what I wanted led to me being morbidly obese and severely depressed.
'I'd experienced meat aversion a few times, but I realized that it was my brain throwing a tantrum wanting sugar and carbs.'
However, Amanda quickly started seeing improvements in her overall health as she was no longer suffering with joint pain, brain fog or fluid retention - and she no longer has type two diabetes meaning she does not need to regulate her glucose levels with medicine.
She said that she 'embraced the power of simplicity' and about six weeks after getting hooked on the diet she 'began to value' herself again.
Now, just over 12 months in, Amanda has lost a staggering 121lbs and believes her whole way of life has improved.
She also revealed that the diet had resulted in huge financial savings too as she cut her grocery bill down by 60 per cent.
Amanda is now hoping to encourage others to follow suit, concluding: 'The hardships I endured were not in vain; they served as the catalyst for my transformation.
'Through the carnivore diet, I not only discovered a way to heal my body but also uncovered a newfound purpose - a purpose that drives me to uplift and inspire others on their own paths to wellness.'
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