Posted on 08/09/2017 5:23:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Vegetarians are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression as those who consume a conventional balanced diet, according to a new study.
The new Bristol University study of almost 10,000 from southwestern England found that vegetarians were more likely to develop depression due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can negatively impact their mental health.
The 350 committed vegetarians who participated in the study had a higher average depression score when compared to the meat-eaters, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
The vegetarians diet tended to feature lower vitamin B12 consumption, as well as greater intake of nuts that contain omega-6 fatty acids, which have been linked with an increased risk of mental health problems.
Slightly more than 50 percent of vegans and 7 percent of vegetarians have a vitamin B12 deficiency, the researchers said. Vitamin B12 can be found in red meat, and plays an important role in affecting an individuals mood.
Other potential factors include high blood levels of phytoestrogens consequent mainly on diets rich in vegetables and soya, the report says. Another potential contributing factor is that lower intakes of seafood are thought to be associated with greater risk of depressive symptoms.
The lack of a balanced diet can influence the development of depression, and the research findings can also be attributed partially to iron deficiencies, the study says. Participants who had been consuming a vegetarian diet for longer periods of time had higher depression scores throughout.
But the researchers did not rule out the possibility that the vegetarians decisions to adopt their diet could have been a symptom of depression from the start.
Because they’re Liberals
Good for you, that sounds terrific.
My friend is a vegetarian for humanitarian reasons, however. Doesn’t want to kill animals. She has a daughter who’s a vet (tho not a vegetarian), and when they go to their time share in Cabo, they spend at least one vacation day spaying and neutering kitties in the shelter...as volunteers. Really hard to argue with her.
Meanwhile, lets enjoy our yummy low-carb diets.
What they need is a good tube steak.
Excellent question....
Vegetables are what food eats.
Hitler was a vegetarian....’nuff said.
Too many people become vegetarians in order to get attention.
And it gives the little Hitlers an excuse to try to dictate to others what to eat.
Anyone remember the South Park episode about being a vegetarian? We all know what almost happened to Stan from not eating meat.
I’ve said for a long time that if had to be a vegetarian, I’d die of either depression or starvation. I’m just not sure which one would get me first.
To paraphrase the late, great John Denver: “Thank God I’m a Carnivore!”
To paraphrase the late, great John Denver: “Thank God I’m a Carnivore!”
no kidding. at the same time all the high carb low fat low protein diets were being pushed there was a huge increase in depression self help books.
Check out Henri, another depressed cat: https://youtu.be/0M7ibPk37_U
More anecdotal evidence. Our son decided to try the vegetarian diet for similar reasons. He was on it for 14 months and we were very concerned. He didn’t look very healthy. He gave it up four months ago and in this short time he has GROWN AN INCH! He is 20 years old. Best of all he looks healthy.
A vegan just assured us the other day that it was a great source of B12.
Vegetarianism: Fighting for the Cure https://youtu.be/ryET4YCiwgg
“Vegetarians Are Nearly Twice As Likely To Be Depressed As Meat-Eaters, Study Finds”
That’s probably because they’re generally the type of people that worry about everything under the sun. The sorth that would rather die than drink water from a public drinking fountain out of fear that it isn’t safe.
I’ve read that in some parts of the world fecal contamination was a primary source of B12, but not necessarily just for vegetarians.
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