<p>Many of you know Steve Jobs as the entrepreneurial CEO behind Apple’s iPod, iPhone, and iPad. The news of his death was not particularly surprising to those who knew of his 7-year battle with pancreatic cancer. The fact that he was a vegetarian raises questions about whether or not his untimely death could have been prevented. It also brings to mind the great debate of whether vegetarianism is truly a healthy lifestyle. I’m sure you’ve heard plenty of times that over a billion people could be fed each year from the grain and soy fed to US livestock. But how healthy would those people actually be?
People choose a vegetarian diet for various reasons. Some are concerned about their health and see vegetarianism as a way to avoid the saturated fats found in animal products. Some take up the vegetarian lifestyle for religious reasons, for example Steve Jobs was a Buddhist vegan. Others may have environmental, political, cultural, or even economic motivations. Whatever the reason may be, choosing to become a vegetarian is a very big decision, and one should really assess weigh out the benefits.
It is a well-known fact that vegetarians, especially vegans, can easily become deficient in nutrients such as vitamin B-12, iron, zinc, calcium, and omega-3′s. WebMd point out that even those who follow a lenient vegetarian diet are at risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency and possibly even heart disease. A study done by the American Society of Clinical Nutrition found that 92% of the vegans they studied had vitamin B-12 deficiency. Even the more lenient vegetarians who ate eggs and milk were found to have a 66% occurrence of B-12 deficiency, while only 5% of those ate meat were deficient. According to the National Institute of Health, Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause severe and permanent damage to the nervous system and brain. Even at levels slightly lower than normal, symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, constipation, and depression are common. Here’s some additional information about animal based proteins versus plant based sources.
Although there is actually little scientific literature that carefully compares mortality and disease rates between vegetarians and nonvegetarians, the fact remains that vegetarianism is relatively new to human history. The Weston A. Price Foundation points out that “all traditional cultures consume some sort of animal protein and fat from fish and other seafood; water and land fowl; land animals; eggs; milk and milk products; reptiles; and insects.” No civilization has ever thrived on a true vegan diet for a very long time, much less sustain several healthy and fertile generations. They ate what they could get, and they certainly did not complain if they had to eat a fish or an egg.
But times have changed, and one could certainly make the argument that vegetarianism is a viable option in today’s world of unusual ingredients and special food substitutes. I’m adamant in making sure the public is aware of factory farming and the hazards of consuming animals that are fed over 29 billion pounds of antibiotics per year. Read more about factory farming here.
For the many people choosing to be vegetarian, there is a wealth of valuable knowledge out there for improving the quality of their diets. For example, the Vegan Society recognizes the need for foods fortified with vitamin B-12. However, it is still recommended that vegetarians modify their diets to include such foods as eggs and fish.
If you’re indefinite about the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, here are some of my favorite sources:
The Vegetarian Low-Carb Diet Cookbook by Rose Elliot
Yours in Health,
Stella Metsovas B.S., CCN
Staff Writer: Celement Tran
This article is rediculous. Get all the facts. Watch Forks Over Knives to get the real story. When you’re done with that, check out Gerson Therapy.
When you have the line “Although there is actually little scientific literature that carefully compares mortality and disease rates between vegetarians and nonvegetarians…” one has to wonder about the authors professional background. There are numerous studies, and observations such as during the Nazi blockades of Denmark during WWII – people had to ratio and did not eat meat, and the mortality rates dropped in wartime. Many Seventh day adventists have been studied in the States regarding their diet and health. The book “China Study” is the largest epidemiological study in the world which turned the meat eating scientists away from that diet to a plant based one. These are just a few from the top of my head.
no it’s true. steve jobs was a blood type O; he was on the wrong diet.
Hey–just found your site through your PR announcement about the Paleo Med diet talk.Anyhoo, Bill Clinton sure is a victim of the vegans–have you seen him lately? He’s so small, his head looks too big for his body! …and they call this HEALTHY. I bet he has absolutely no muscle mass left.
Hubby says he’s now a bag of antlers much like runway models are.
“This article is rediculous”
First off, the correct spelling is *ridiculous*. I’m interested in learning more about your professional background!
Agreed! Would love to see Mr. Clinton’s B12 nutrient status (via blood). I’ve heard he consumes fish and isn’t a ‘complete vegan’. Very important to note that years upon years of eating processed, fast-foods can falter when ascribing to a new methodology (e.g., becoming a vegan). SM
I can see how this is true, that’s why I believe it’s important for vegans to have healthy meats like turkey or chicken. For the most part though the benefits of eating super vegan foods has a big impact on the mind and Steve knew that, that help his visionary status.