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ARE THE VEGANS YOU KNOW HEALTHY? Some chose not to respond to this question, for various reasons, but those who did respond, mostly, said "yes" or "yes, very". That was the general consensus. Some common responses to the question: ARE THE VEGANS YOU KNOW HEALTHY? were: clearer skin, regular bowel movements, allergies disappearing, and rarely, if ever, getting colds and flu's. They rave of good blood work, lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Apparently, vegans are more active and have more energy. And the adjective "happy" was used quite a bit to describe the health of vegans. Most agreed that vegans are more informed than the average person about nutritional requirements. Plenty of responders indicated better health since going vegan. Sadly, a couple responders have battled with cancer (ovarian, breast) but have pulled through. Veganism is not a cure-all in and of itself (as far as health). We live in a toxic world. It is important to eat plenty of raw greens, veggies and fruit and a balanced whole foods vegan diet, and live a healthful lifestyle, but not all vegans do that. Some eat loads of processed junk food, especially in vegan-friendly towns, where options are available. Several U.K. responders mentioned pallid vegans, or men being too thin. There is far less obesity seen amongst vegans, but there are overweight vegans. I noted several of those responders who reported vitamin deficiencies (B12 and D) were from New Zealand or U.K. Many of the responders were physically fit and enjoyed running, yoga, aerobics, athletics, mountain-climbing, cycling, and working out at the gym. And vegans in their 60's and 70's still work and are active. Here, an interesting assortment of responses to the question: ARE THE VEGANS YOU KNOW HEALTHY? "As far as I know. Personally, I run regularly, including races. I also backpack and swim. At my last physical my doc told me that the results of my blood work were enviable." "Quite, I think we're all quite conscious of the bad press of the past and being healthy is seen as a responsibility...part of the good P.R. we all contribute to being vegan." "Yes, I'm a marathon runner and tour cyclist. I have other vegan friends that are runners and cyclists. One friend is a championship weight-lifter. I recently met a vegan triathlete..." "Healthier than people that consume processed food, soda and dead animals, yes!" "Yes! The vast majority of the vegans I know are at least, if not more, healthy than the omnivores I know. I know some vegan health nuts (like me) who spend tons of time staying active and eating right, and I know some vegans who drink and smoke and live off vegan junk food." "...In general, I would say they are healthy. I do try to make sure everyone's educated about how to get what they need, so at least one person has said things like: take a walk in the sunshine each day, get a sublingual B12 and sprinkle flax seeds on your cereal." "Yes, they seem to know more about nutrition than the average person." "Yes, we are very healthy and we never get sick, ever! All the illnesses I had went away. I lost 75 pounds and have kept it off. I am almost 50 and don't need reading glasses. I had the worst heartburn and took peptic acid every day. I don't ever get heartburn now. I had asthma, and I don't have it now." "VERY, and they have cured health problems by going vegan." "Yes, some are in their 70's and in perfect health." "Yes (and of course if they were not, I would help them to become so)." "...My own health improved considerably when I went vegan, including the asthma which was getting worse every year as a vegetarian, but which disappeared within a few weeks of going vegan. I know of no one who has suffered as a result of a vegan diet and the people I have spoken to about I have found their feeling of wellbeing improved." "I think so, although I have recently been a bit anxious about this in regards to my own health. Something I'd never previously been. I'd always been fairly confident that it was a healthy way to be. I recently found out I was Vitamin D deficient and worry that perhaps people who convert but aren't fully plugged into the community may not be as healthy as they should...Even though I thought I was fairly well informed about nutritional veganism, but the vitamin D issue passed me by." "Yes. All the vegans we know are active and healthy, both mentally and physically. My wife, for instance, went through menopause. She was told she had to take animal-derived hormones to avoid hot flashes and other post-menopausal conditions, and she was told she needed to drink lots of milk to avoid deterioration of her bones. She said no to both, and she had pretty much zero negative menopausal and post-menopausal conditions. And, she recently had a bone density test at her doctor's urging (after a few years of being post-menopausal while avoiding dairy) and her bones are perfect." "Extremely so, and also the temperament of vegan individuals tends to be more calm and less prone to angry moods or violent behaviors. They are also more happy." "Very healthy; More energy, clear complexion, heart healthy, the results are countless. Remember that everything that goes into the animal to get them fat, goes into you." "The vegans I know look and seem healthy to me. I know that my cholesterol level, at last check, was very low, the psoriasis I suffered from in my pre-vegan life has resolved entirely and my energy levels are higher than ever. I feel healthier as a vegan than I ever felt as an omnivorous meat-addict." "The vegans I know are extremely healthy. We are definitely mostly live-food vegans, organic, many gardeners...We are not packaged food people, whom I cannot speak for. Over 95% of the vegans I know have great physical health, endurance, strength, vitality, clarity, sharpness of mind, and open hearts." "Some are very fat, actually, and better they should not tell non-veggies that they are vegan, it would destroy the image of the healthy and slim vegan." "Yes I think it is rare to find a seriously un-healthy vegan. Not being fit doesn't necessarily mean you're un-healthy, to me." "I don't know any vegans with health issues. I do, however, know a few people who swear that veganism made them sick and now they have to eat animal products. But often where you dig deeper into these stories, there is more to it. They were either at a bad/stressful place in their life; they were only vegan for 3 months, etc." "Overall, I see fewer incidences of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. among my vegan friends than the rest of my loved ones." "Vegans come in all shapes and sizes. I have physically fit vegan friends, skinny vegan friends, and vegan friends who could stand to lose 10 or more pounds. In New York City, it's very easy to be vegan; so many options, but not all of them healthy." "...I have vegan friends that are competitive runners that are ranked in the top 5, in the state of Illinois." "Absolutely!!! Much healthier than carnivores!" "Pretty much, but some smoke, or drink, or are lazy; so they have the same associated health problems." "They are not fat at all, and they have good complexions, and are very active, are keen gardeners, feel for nature and the environment." "Most of the vegans I know are healthy and health-conscious, but sometimes complain about being hungry and don't get enough to eat." "Yes, we are all healthy, never at the doc's." "Yes, the ones that I know are all healthy and most of them frequent the gym or take part in regular physical activities like rock climbing or biking. If they have a downfall, it would probably be drinking alcohol." "Ya. Actually stronger and smarter! Including me!" "Yes, more so than our non-vegan counterparts. However, it is possible to be an unhealthy vegan since things like Oreo cookies and nut butters are vegan, or someone who ONLY eats a can of beans every day could technically be considered 'vegan', and are generally highlighted in the media as being representative of the vegan diet." "Three of the five women are a bit fat." "All but one who wasn't healthy when she ate meat either. Another has a medical condition which has eased with a vegan diet (It's why he went vegan in the first place)." "Most of the vegans that I know seem to be healthy, but I don't know the details of their private lives. I am concerned about vegans who do not follow a healthy vegan diet. They won't be able to influence others unless they are healthy and dynamic." "They're human Gods." "Most are quite healthy. Old age and stress catch up even with vegans." "Mostly, though sometimes there are conditions that may be genetic." "Yes, I am a raw vegan. That is the way to go. I am 35 and blow away all others in terms of health." "Yes, some of the other vegans I know have become vegan because it is so much healthier than a Standard American Diet." "Mostly...some don't eat well...just because you are vegan doesn't mean you eat well." "I don't know any vegans who have health problems resulting from being vegan." "Yes! The healthiest people I know. I'm 65 years old (people say I look 10 years younger) and have lots of energy, am thin and fit, my blood tests always are great, and I have no signs of any degenerative or inflammatory diseases, knock wood." "Yes, most seem fitter, healthier, younger looking than similarly aged omnivores. Very few are complaining of things like high cholesterol, heart problems or high blood pressure. My health has improved since becoming vegan. I had good blood pressure and cholesterol levels as a vegetarian for 10 years before I went vegan. They improved, again, as a vegan. My cholesterol went from 5 (200) to 4.3 (172) within 6 months of switching to a vegan diet. My doctor also said that my ration of HDL to LDL cholesterol is the best she had seen for someone who is not on cholesterol lowering medications. My general health is much better than my sister and mother (non-vegans), especially my cholesterol levels, as high cholesterol runs in the family." "Most are, some are still 'junk food' vegans and while they are no doubt healthier than people eating the Standard American Diet, they are not as healthy as they should/could be." "The only unhealthy vegan I ever met lived on processed food and chain smoked." "Yes, although I did get B12 deficient when I did not take supplements regularly." "Yes-everyone I know who eats a well-balanced vegan diet is healthier than the non-vegans that I know." "Yes (ish), some a little too skinny." "..I know vegans who virtually never get sick." "I don't really know any vegans. I just know that I have never felt so physically and mentally happy and healthy, in all my life." "Yes, we are healthy. We feel good and look good. We have a drive to become better people and do better work in our time here on Earth." "Most are not. Most vegans simply follow the basic American lifestyle of sedentary lives and over-eating processed foods. Simply because they make ethical choices doesn't mean they make healthy ones, unfortunately." "Yes, except if they are peri-menopausal/menopausal and NOT on bioidentical hormone therapy. That is critical to healthy living as you age." "Yes, though I have Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 deficiency. Another has prostrate problems." "All the vegans I know are very healthy. Personally, any health problems I have are environmental, i.e. computers, bad lighting, air conditioning, pollution, stress from living in this cruel insensitive world." "The only vegans I know really well are me and my wife, and I have to say I haven't felt this good EVER. I sleep better, I have regular bowel movements, and many things like headaches, have virtually disappeared." "I'm active and very healthy! I have never had any dietary problems - my iron and B12 counts are always good." "Um, define healthy? Actually, most of the vegans I know are in pretty good shape, in comparison to the national average. However, I live in an area with two very good vegan bakeries, and two 24-hour donut shops that serve vegan donuts...I'm sure we could all stand to lose a few pounds (we all have terrible sweet tooths!)" "Yes, very. I would say healthier in mind and body than most meat-eaters. But this could also be due to other lifestyle factors. The vegans I know are in more committed and happier relationships where they do things together, and most don't have children." "For the most part, though I know some who are junk food vegans, cigarette-smoking/beer-chugging vegans, and others who are angry vegans, so it is possible to be unhealthy physically and emotionally." "Yes, they have a glow about them, are slender, happy, joyful, and have a gentleness of spirit." "The raw vegans I know have super health...the cooked vegans don't always look that good." "Generally yes, there are the odd ones who have ignored the B12 advice and have felt better after they have taken it on board. I find it hard to think of any in bad health. I could give you a long list of non-vegans that are far from fine human specimens." |