WPF vs Vegan
2.4 - I Am Already Vegan; Is That Enough?
Video Transcript: 2
As we discussed in Lesson 2.3, the research does not suggest you must eat a 100 percent WFPB diet to see improvements in your health unless you are trying to overcome certain diseases. But what about a 100 percent vegan diet? If animal foods are the main culprit in our current health epidemic, is it not enough to be a strict vegan? How important is it for you to avoid the highly processed, hyperpalatable foods so common in many vegan diets? You might feel that these foods are increasingly difficult to avoid. Fake meats, potato chips, cookies, and vegan cheeses are everywhere on grocery store shelves, and you cannot go to a vegan restaurant (with a few rare exceptions) that does not cook with oil.
Before we answer this question, let’s look more closely at the difference between a vegan diet and a WFPB diet. Both diets are free of animal foods, but a WFPB diet also excludes processed foods like oil, refined sugars, and any other food stripped of vital nutrients. For a more comprehensive review of what defines a WFPB diet, review the lists of foods to eat and avoid in lessons 2.1 and 2.2.
There is a lack of research on vegan ultra-processed foods like plant-based meats and their effects on those consuming exclusively vegan diets. At least one study found no increased risks for consuming such foods. Other studies suggest that vegan diets do not adequately meet protein needs unless they include plant-based meats, but we know from the research of Dr. Campbell and many others that protein needs are easily met on a WFPB diet. Finally, we know that the nutrient composition of vegan ingredients like sugar, cooking oils, and white flour is lacking. Whether these foods are as detrimental to your health as animal products is perhaps unclear, but we know they lack the nutrients to promote good health.
You need to ask yourself several questions when deciding if being vegan is enough. How has my health benefitted from my dietary changes? Am I at a healthy weight? Is my A1c (a three-month measurement of blood sugar) improving? Am I reversing my diet-related diseases? If you are not seeing improved health, more energy, and disease reversal on a vegan diet, then you have your answer. A WFPB diet remains the best option for improving and maintaining your health.
Video Transcript: 2
As we discussed in Lesson 2.3, the research does not suggest you must eat a 100 percent WFPB diet to see improvements in your health unless you are trying to overcome certain diseases. But what about a 100 percent vegan diet? If animal foods are the main culprit in our current health epidemic, is it not enough to be a strict vegan? How important is it for you to avoid the highly processed, hyperpalatable foods so common in many vegan diets? You might feel that these foods are increasingly difficult to avoid. Fake meats, potato chips, cookies, and vegan cheeses are everywhere on grocery store shelves, and you cannot go to a vegan restaurant (with a few rare exceptions) that does not cook with oil.
Before we answer this question, let’s look more closely at the difference between a vegan diet and a WFPB diet. Both diets are free of animal foods, but a WFPB diet also excludes processed foods like oil, refined sugars, and any other food stripped of vital nutrients. For a more comprehensive review of what defines a WFPB diet, review the lists of foods to eat and avoid in lessons 2.1 and 2.2.
There is a lack of research on vegan ultra-processed foods like plant-based meats and their effects on those consuming exclusively vegan diets. At least one study found no increased risks for consuming such foods. Other studies suggest that vegan diets do not adequately meet protein needs unless they include plant-based meats, but we know from the research of Dr. Campbell and many others that protein needs are easily met on a WFPB diet. Finally, we know that the nutrient composition of vegan ingredients like sugar, cooking oils, and white flour is lacking. Whether these foods are as detrimental to your health as animal products is perhaps unclear, but we know they lack the nutrients to promote good health.
You need to ask yourself several questions when deciding if being vegan is enough. How has my health benefitted from my dietary changes? Am I at a healthy weight? Is my A1c (a three-month measurement of blood sugar) improving? Am I reversing my diet-related diseases? If you are not seeing improved health, more energy, and disease reversal on a vegan diet, then you have your answer. A WFPB diet remains the best option for improving and maintaining your health.