Jenny McCarthy recently shared her unpleasant experience with a vegan diet. She revealed that she 'literally almost died' from going vegan diet, due to her food allergies, which prevented her from getting nutrients.
“I became so ill from being a vegan. I tried vegan and I almost died. I literally almost died," the 52-year-old actress said on the March 26 episode of her podcast, Heal Squad.
According to her, she had a lot of food allergies, which went undiagnosed for years, including celiac disease and sensitivities to soy and dairy, which made the vegan lifestyle unsustainable for her.
“I didn’t know I had a gluten and dairy problem. I thought everyone got sick when they ate,” she said. “I can’t have carbs and everything is a carb.” She went on to add that the vegan diet left her exhausted, fatigued, and severely ill. Jenny McCarthy has quit being vegan and has gone on a carnivore diet now, based on her ‘functional medicine doctor’s advice.
The vegan diet is in vogue these days. People are going vegan for both health and ethical reasons. Though some people tend to quit the vegan diet, either because the shift from the conventional diet (which largely includes animal products) was sudden or due to the challenge of meeting their dietary needs, seldom have we heard about the downsides of plant-based diets. Do vegan diets have shortcomings? Let's take a look into vegan diets, their benefits, and risks.
What is a vegan diet?
A vegan diet is an entirely plant-based diet, that focuses on foods derived from plants such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits. This means vegans donot eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.
According to NHS, one can get the essential nutrients from eating a variety of balanced meals from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
What are the benefits of a vegan diet?
A vegan diet can offer several health advantages when done right. When you switch from a Western diet to a vegan one, the chances of weight loss are high. Many observational studies suggest that vegans tend to be thinner and have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared to others.
Plant-based diets are also linked to lower blood sugar levels and improve kidney function. Studies suggest that vegans have lower blood sugar levels, and also have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
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When done right, this diet can also reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Some studies also point to vegan diets lowering the risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer.
What are the risks of a vegan diet?
Though veganism has certain benefits when done right, it also has pitfalls, especially if not well-planned. One of the biggest concerns when it comes to a vegan diet is the nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin B12, found naturally only in animal products, is critical for nerve function and blood health. Without supplements or fortified foods, vegans may have vitamin deficiency, which can lead to fatigue, neurological issues, or even higher stroke risk due to elevated homocysteine levels.
Though iron is present in plant-based foods, its is less absorbable compared to iron meat. Iron deficiency will increase anemia risk. For vegans, getting calcium and vitamin D, which are often found in dairy, can be tricky. A deficiency in these nutrients can affect bone health. Some research also suggests that vegans might face higher fracture rates, especially if protein intake is low.
Another challenge vegans face is getting proteins. While beans, lentils, and tofu can provide some amount of protein, variety matters. When you have soy allergy like McCarthy, it further narrows down the options. Fish is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids. Though flaxseeds and algae oil can help, its may not be enough.
“I became so ill from being a vegan. I tried vegan and I almost died. I literally almost died," the 52-year-old actress said on the March 26 episode of her podcast, Heal Squad.
According to her, she had a lot of food allergies, which went undiagnosed for years, including celiac disease and sensitivities to soy and dairy, which made the vegan lifestyle unsustainable for her.
“I didn’t know I had a gluten and dairy problem. I thought everyone got sick when they ate,” she said. “I can’t have carbs and everything is a carb.” She went on to add that the vegan diet left her exhausted, fatigued, and severely ill. Jenny McCarthy has quit being vegan and has gone on a carnivore diet now, based on her ‘functional medicine doctor’s advice.
The vegan diet is in vogue these days. People are going vegan for both health and ethical reasons. Though some people tend to quit the vegan diet, either because the shift from the conventional diet (which largely includes animal products) was sudden or due to the challenge of meeting their dietary needs, seldom have we heard about the downsides of plant-based diets. Do vegan diets have shortcomings? Let's take a look into vegan diets, their benefits, and risks.
What is a vegan diet?
A vegan diet is an entirely plant-based diet, that focuses on foods derived from plants such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits. This means vegans donot eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.
According to NHS, one can get the essential nutrients from eating a variety of balanced meals from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
What are the benefits of a vegan diet?
A vegan diet can offer several health advantages when done right. When you switch from a Western diet to a vegan one, the chances of weight loss are high. Many observational studies suggest that vegans tend to be thinner and have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared to others.
Plant-based diets are also linked to lower blood sugar levels and improve kidney function. Studies suggest that vegans have lower blood sugar levels, and also have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Video
When done right, this diet can also reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Some studies also point to vegan diets lowering the risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer.
What are the risks of a vegan diet?
Though veganism has certain benefits when done right, it also has pitfalls, especially if not well-planned. One of the biggest concerns when it comes to a vegan diet is the nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin B12, found naturally only in animal products, is critical for nerve function and blood health. Without supplements or fortified foods, vegans may have vitamin deficiency, which can lead to fatigue, neurological issues, or even higher stroke risk due to elevated homocysteine levels.
Though iron is present in plant-based foods, its is less absorbable compared to iron meat. Iron deficiency will increase anemia risk. For vegans, getting calcium and vitamin D, which are often found in dairy, can be tricky. A deficiency in these nutrients can affect bone health. Some research also suggests that vegans might face higher fracture rates, especially if protein intake is low.
Another challenge vegans face is getting proteins. While beans, lentils, and tofu can provide some amount of protein, variety matters. When you have soy allergy like McCarthy, it further narrows down the options. Fish is a major source of omega-3 fatty acids. Though flaxseeds and algae oil can help, its may not be enough.
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