Following a vegan diet can cause you to lose out on many vital nutrients essential for brain health, according to a new study.
Choline is an essential dietary nutrient. However, the liver does not produce enough of it for the body to function properly. It is also important for brain health, especially during foetal development. This vital nutrient has an impact on liver function. Not having enough of it in your system can cause free radicals to attack cells and irregularities in blood fat metabolism.
Eggs, dairy products, fish, and chicken are some of the main food sources of choline. Dietary surveys conducted in North America, Australia, and Europe reveals that many fall short of getting adequate amounts of this nutrient. "This is concerning given that current trends appear to be towards meat reduction and plant-based diets," Emma Derbyshire of Nutritional Insight, a UK-based consultancy specialising in nutrition and biomedical science, told a news portal.
Adding, "More needs to be done to educate healthcare professionals and consumers about the importance of a choline-rich diet, and how to achieve this."
Derbyshire further explained:"If choline is not obtained in the levels needed from dietary sources per se then supplementation strategies will be required, especially in relation to key stages of the life cycle, such as pregnancy, when choline intakes are critical to infant development."
The study's findings were originally published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.
Medical experts also warn vegan diets may cause health issues like epilepsy and developmental disorders. Physician Allan M. Lund at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen claims vegan food can have detrimental consequences, especially for children.
Another study also found avoiding dairy products, which is banned from vegan diets,could lower your IQ. "Unfortunately the dairy alternative products out there aren't fortified with calcium. One of the best sources of iodine in our diet are dairy products. Other things like fish, eggs and even poultry does provide smaller amounts,”dietician Helen Bond told a news portal.
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