Individuals who consume a vegan or vegetarian diet may not always be healthier than those who eat meat and junk food
Doctor Bindiya Gandhi stuck to a vegetarian diet for four years of her life but was also the unhealthiest she had ever been
Dr. Gandhi stated she was tired, overweight, and dealing with the effects of a hormonal imbalance. Her diet consisted primarily of grains, bread, and a lot of sweet desserts
Dr. Gandhi’s attitude was that as long as she maintained a regular exercise routine she could eat whatever she liked, and until her father told her to add meat back to her diet things did not change with her health.
After eating meat, Dr. Gandhi discovered her energy and memory improving, as well as the added benefit of weight loss. The reason for this improvement was the following: vegetarian and vegans tend to be deficient in fat as well as key vitamins such as iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin D and B12.
They also usually have very low cholesterol and body weight levels, which can create hormonal imbalances, interfere with menstrual cycles and create “brain fog” – the symptom of feeling less aware and cognitively active than usual.
How to make a plant-heavy diet as healthy as possible?
Dr. Ghandi recommends adding protein shakes to a plant-heavy diet and adding healthy fats such as avocados to avoid the negative side effects of eating limited protein.
She also recommends eating unrefined carbohydrates and whole grain rather than consuming high-carb foods that inhibit weight loss leads to lethargy and fatigue, and hunger which can end up with cravings for sugary foods.
Lastly, Dr. Ghandi warned vegans and vegetarians to be wary of consuming too much dairy and eating, surprisingly, not enough vegetables: individuals should eat up to nine servings per day.