A meat-free diet does not make you depressed “Multiple studies have actual shown that healthy plant-based diets are associated with less depression. A different study in Brazil showed that the longer people are on a plant-based diet the less depression they have, and other studies have shown meat increases depression.”
Vegetarians scored lower on depression tests and had better mood profiles than their fish- and meat-eating peers.
Vegan diets tend to be rich in antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients shown to be protective against depression and depressive symptoms ( 6 ). When it comes to the research, a handful of studies suggest that people who follow a vegan diet may experience a lower risk of depression ( 7 , 8 , 9 ).
Vegans/vegetarians were at increased risk for depression (odds ratio = 2.142; 95%CI, 1.105-4.148) and had lower anxiety scores (mean difference = -0.847; 95%CI, -1.677 to -0.018).
Another recent study, including 6,578 French participants and published May 2022 in the Journal of Health, Population and Nature, reported no link between meatless diets and likelihood for depression and anxiety.
First, they found that vegetarians and vegans alike appear to share a functional architecture of emotional cognition. Compared to the group of omnivores, veg*ns showed a notably higher engagement of empathy-related brain regions when shown images of suffering—whether they included animals or humans.
Vegans report 7% higher happiness ratings than meat-eaters. Interestingly, we found that happier individuals consider themselves more likely to turn vegan in the future.
However, following a poorly planned vegan diet can result in an insufficient intake of certain vitamins and minerals including vitamin B12, calcium, iodine and iron. It is therefore essential that vegans avoid fast-food vegan diets that are lacking in nutrients and follow whole-food diets instead.
Simply, vegan face is a name for a slack, wasted look that is caused by an absence of protein in your diet. The skin is dry, sallow and flaky. Protein literally props up the face: it makes it look plump (in a good way) and fresh-faced and wakeful.
While there are a variety of health benefits associated with following a vegan diet, eating a vegan diet won't make you age faster or slower in and of itself.
A number of motivations were identified by a majority of current vegetarians/vegans: health (69%), animal protection (68%), concern for the environment (59%), feelings of disgust about meat/animal products (63%), and taste preferences (52%).
Moreover, individuals who followed vegetarian and vegan diets had lower levels of anxiety. However, when depression was analyzed as a categorical variable, vegetarians and vegans had a higher risk of depression [19].
The language used by Faunalytics is explicit in counting those who've tried vegetarianism or veganism only once and even for less than three months as vegans or vegetarians. They even say quite plainly in the research findings: “84 percent of vegetarians/vegans abandon their diet.”
A vegan diet can be healthy as it is typically higher in fiber and lower in cholesterol than an omnivorous diet. As a result, some studies find a vegan diet lowers the risk of heart disease and premature death, helps manage type 2 diabetes and reduces the risk of cancer.
Vegetarian and vegan diets can be healthy, but they can lack certain nutrients. You may have to use a little creativity to ensure you get enough protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. You can find many of these nutrients in eggs and dairy if you're vegetarian, and from plant sources if you're vegan.
Other studies have shown less stress and anxiety in those eating a vegan diet, and in a prospective randomized trial of nutrition intervention for 18 weeks, improved productivity at work was demonstrated with less depression and anxiety on a plant-based diet.
People who follow a vegan diet tend to eat more carbohydrate-rich foods such as wheat, white rice, and sugar, as it is difficult to feel satisfied with the lack of meat and other foods. As a result, blood sugar levels rise, and the skin ages more easily.
Typically, a plant-based diet is high in vitamin C, lysine and antioxidants, all of which help with the production of collagen at a cellular level. In turn, this helps the skin to stay supple and youthful-looking. Another aspect of a plant-based diet is a high level of beta-carotene.
Do vegans look younger? In general, vegans do not look any younger than people who choose to eat meat and dairy products, though many do live longer, healthier lives. Still, the effects of aging are not only determined by what we eat.
Fruitarianism is more restrictive than veganism or raw veganism, as a subset of both. Maintaining this diet over a long period can result in dangerous deficiencies, a risk that many fruitarians try to ward off through nutritional testing and vitamin injections.
Due to the absence of red meat in a plant-based diet, vegans (and vegetarians) are typically deficient in vitamin B12 and iron. This can lead to fatigue, headaches, dizziness and if left untreated, anaemia.
Empathy and compassion
The ability to put yourself in someone else's position is pretty important when it comes to forming a lifestyle built on causing as little harm as practicable and possible. Most of the vegans I have met have been the most compassionate people ever.
Vegan nutrition often lacks in the following: Vitamin B12 – found in animal products like meat, fish, eggs and dairy, B12 is essential for the development and function of nerve cells. A lack of B12 can lead to cognitive impairment, memory loss and brain fog.
Research of this nature in 2020 showed that the United Kingdom was the leading country for veganism. Google trends gave the UK a perfect 100 out of 100 score, with Australia second on 87, Israel on 84, Austria on 82 and New Zealand on 81.
So why do most people struggle to stay vegan? It comes down to doing it for the wrong reasons, having the wrong expectations, lack of support, knowledge and skills—which we'll break down in more detail below. Note we're not judging others who are failing at veganism.