Is vegan better than vegetarian for your health?

Answer 1

There are

many health benefits to a vegetarian diet; vegetarians have significantly lower rates of obesity, coronary Heart disease, hypertension, type II Diabetes, diet-related cancers,diverticulitis, constipation, and gall stones.

The protein found in meat can easily be obtained from many vegetarian sources, such as vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, tofu, or manufactured meat substitute products, such as Quorn (which make vegetarian mince, sausages etc.)

Iron supplements are also available, as well as supplements with B-vitamins. Meat is not strictly necessary in the diet.

It is, however, more difficult to source vitamin B-12 in a strict vegetarian (vegan) diet, so care must be taken. Overall, vegetarians tend to be healthier than meat-eaters.

Answer 2

I've read one study that says that when comparing vegetarians, vegans lived least long, followed by vegetarians who ate animal products, then people who called themselves vegetarians but occasionally ate meat.

I've also heard accounts where people stopped or prevented cancer by going vegan.

My personal story is that one year when I was not a vegetarian I got the flu 5 times. Tired of being sick, I complained to a vegan friend of mine who said that he rarely gets sick now that he is a vegan. I eliminated dairy products and meat from my diet, and never got sick.

Currently I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian. I get sick once a year perhaps (enough to stay home from work). My vegan friends seem to never get sick. One theory is that dairy products are mucus forming, and perhaps if I eliminated them I could reduce my colds/flus.

My children were very healthy when they were vegetarian. When I split with their dad, he started feeding them meat and they do get sick much more often. Slaughterhouses are probably not the healthiest places to obtain your food!

Answer 3

It's more healthy than not eating. It is difficult to compare to an omnivorous diet because both range so much. Chances are it'd be more healthy since vegans need to be so aware of ingredients. Though Oreos are vegan. If you ate those all day you might not be so healthy.

In my personal experience I've been healthier as a vegan. I cook more often and haven't had fast food in quite some time. My limited options are more healthy on average but an omnivore could be eating the same things but with milk, cheese, yogurt, meats or eggs. Eggs have anti-oxidants and protein in them. They're healthy, but candy bars aren't very healthy. Depends on the diet. Both have potential to be very healthy.

Answer 4

For the most part, yes. A study titled, Comparison of Nutritional Quality of the Vegan, Vegetarian, Semi-Vegetarian, Pesco-Vegetarian and Omnivorous Diet was published Mar 24, 2014. It concluded that the vegan died was the most healthy one.