Of course, the benefits of eating a plant-based diet are well-known, and many people who follow this type of diet benefit because it lowers their risk for cardiovascular disease. It’s also been shown to be helpful in slowing the growth of prostate cancer. If someone is thriving on this kind of diet, that’s great. But naturopathic doctors like Dr. Mark Stengler, founder and medical director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine in Encinitas, California, are concerned about the many people who think they are thriving—but aren’t. Find out how to correct three common mistakes that people often make when following a vegan diet…
Choose healthful meat substitutes. People can’t simply stop eating all animal-derived food products and think that that makes a vegan diet healthful. What’s important is what they eat instead. Many vegans eat too much of one of the food groups that they do eat—usually, it’s carbohydrates. Instead, they need one or more healthful protein sources several times a day. These include foods with an array of amino acids, such as quinoa, nuts and seeds, as well as foods that are high in protein, including beans and tofu.
Beware of processed vegan foods. Vegans should steer clear of many processed foods that claim to be vegan substitutes for cheese and meat. They may be vegan all right—but that doesn’t mean that they don’t include many chemicals found in “regular” processed foods. These substitutes may be high in sugar, fat and sodium in an attempt to mimic cheese and processed meat.
Get a full complement of nutrients. People on strict vegan diets tend to be deficient in vitamin B-12, iron, zinc, coenzyme Q10 and carnitine, nutrients that are abundant in animal-sourced foods. If you follow a vegan diet, it’s best if you work with a nutritionist to ensure that you are getting the correct amount of these nutrients in supplement form.
Source: Mark A. Stengler, NMD, is a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. Dr. Stengler is author of the Health Revelations newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), founder and medical director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine in Encinitas, California, and adjunct associate clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. http://MarkStengler.com
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Publication Bottom Line's High Energy for Life
Original publication date 07/06/12
