Is there really no "Cons" to a Vegetable only diet?

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

I come from the perspective that all foods matter for all nutritions, and the idea of only eating one type food is usually wrong, I know that a Fruits only diet can have negetive effects such as blood becoming like acid due to the acidic liquids in certain Fruits? And the same can be said for other only 1 food type diets.

And yet I rarely hear any "Cons" to a Vegetable-only/Vegen diet? I am asking anyone if there is or not and if there is why is it not mentioned often?

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

It should be noted that a vegetarian, or vegan, diet isn't only vegetables. They include fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, roots, tubers, and berries too. The point of a vegetarian diet is to not eat meat, but often allows for some animal products, like eggs and milk. Some modify the diet to allow for fish, and/or poultry. One of the reasons for this is that meats, especially red meats and pork, are linked as contributing factors to some kinds of health issues. A vegan diet is one that forbids all meat and animal products, which means no milk, eggs, animal fats, and etc in their diets.

A strictly vegetable diet can potentially lead to malnutrition. This is due to the fact many vegetables not carrying enough fats, especially saturated fats which are necessary. Many types of vegetables also lack, or are low in essential vitamins and minerals. Most of all it's hard to get enough protein with vegetables alone. Which is why most vegan and vegetarian diets include fruits, grains, legumes, roots, tubers, nuts, and berries. As those help cover all of a person's dietary needs.

In all honesty there isn't conclusive evidence that these diets are actually better. One of the biggest contributing factors in obesity is actually people eating too many carbohydrates, which be tend to store as fat. Properly done however a vegan or vegetarian diet can be balanced not to have those problems.

The thing is that these sorts of diets are kind of a failure because they favor extremes. Which means they tend to be the antithesis of moderation and self control.

 

[Silvanus]

Well, a vegan diet doesn't necessarily mean vegetable-only. They'll be eating nuts, pulses, mycoprotein, stuff like that.

A vegetable-only diet would find it quite difficult to obtain the necessary protein, which vegetarians (and vegans) usually get from the above. Not saying it's not possible; it probably is (with good planning).

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

Well, a vegan diet doesn't necessarily mean vegetable-only. They'll be eating nuts, pulses, mycoprotein, stuff like that.

A vegetable-only diet would find it quite difficult to obtain the necessary protein, which vegetarians (and vegans) usually get from the above. Not saying it's not possible; it probably is (with good planning).

Well if you include potatoes, and/or soy, there's a good source of a lot of the things vegetables tend to lack.

 

[Silvanus]

Well if you include potatoes, and/or soy, there's a good source of a lot of the things vegetables tend to lack.

Potatoes will give you your carbohydrates (they're pretty much my sole source of them), and soy can give you protein, but it's not a great source. I think most vegans rely more on nuts & pulses, but I honestly don't know. I get most of mine from eggs (I eat next-to-no meat).

 

[Lacedaemonius]

I don't believe that you could reasonably survive on a vegetable only diet. Silvanus already got to this, but you need to add essential amino acids from some source, and plant sources that do exist are minuscule and require our body to work to get at it. Once you realize how many of the things you think are "Vegetables" are some other category of food like nuts, drupes, seeds, mushrooms, and so on, it's tough. The only reason that you can possibly manage with that, is that sea vegetables tend to be much richer in essential nutrients than their terrestrial counterparts. I'm not sure if you could manage to get enough calories though, before you started to poison yourself with salts, and trace elements.

If you just mean "Vegan" as in "No animal products", then that's a different story as some others have said. It's not that there are no cons, it's just that there are no cons for your health if you do it right. It should be noted that many many people do not do it right.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Vegetable only? The downside to that is that it's a colossal pain in the ass. You can get everything you need from vegetables, but it requires a fair bit of know how and planning. And because it's so restrictive, thing's can get... boring.

A full vegetarian/vegan diet is a lot more reasonable. Your diet is still restricted, and thus more boring, but the inclusion of nuts and fruit sorts out a lot of the problems.

In short - The cons are that, if you do it right, it's a pain, and if you do it wrong, you get sick and die.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

A life without bacon and cheeseburgers?!

That's a pretty damn big con!

 

[HybridChangeling]

We are very flexible omnivores, being able to sustain ourselves with vegetables and protein from legumes and nuts, but there's a complexity to it. Notice I said omnivores, and that is because a big part of our diet is protein, amino acids, and even fat. Not taking it from meat means we have to compensate with quite an amount of nuts, whey, or other less protein filled meals. With doing that, you are basically having to reroute not only a dietary instinct, but you have to do it right. Misuse of a vegetarian/vegan diet is dangerous, as a low amount of any of our vital nutrients will cause negative effects and even health problems. It is best to see what you take in for protein now, and look at what would sustain you.

And if that sounded tricky, a vegan diet is basically Hardcore mode, taking away the easy avenues a vegetarian could use in favor of even less variety, which as humans we also need to sustain our complex system. That is a commitment, you can't just bounce from diet to diet when you eat primarily vegan.

Perhaps even speak to a doctor or a dietitian about the risks and benefits first. After all we just people on the internet, and we are not all knowing. (At least I think we aren't...)

 

[DrownedAmmet]

We are very flexible omnivores, being able to sustain ourselves with vegetables and protein from legumes and nuts, but there's a complexity to it. Notice I said omnivores, and that is because a big part of our diet is protein, amino acids, and even fat. Not taking it from meat means we have to compensate with quite an amount of nuts, whey, or other less protein filled meals. With doing that, you are basically having to reroute not only a dietary instinct, but you have to do it right. Misuse of a vegetarian/vegan diet is dangerous, as a low amount of any of our vital nutrients will cause negative effects and even health problems. It is best to see what you take in for protein now, and look at what would sustain you.

And if that sounded tricky, a vegan diet is basically Hardcore mode, taking away the easy aovenues a vegetarian could use in favor of even less variety, which as humans we also need to sustain our complex system. That is a commitment, you can't just bounce from diet to diet when you eat primarily vegan.

Perhaps even speak to a doctor or a dietitian about the risks and benefits first. After all we just people on the internet, and we are not all knowing. (At least I think we aren't...)

It's pretty easy to stay healthy on a vegetarian diet if you eat dairy, cheese, and eggs. You can get by mostly on common sense. I didn't have to learn about amino acids or protein supplements or even count calories until I wanted to get my weight up
But going full vegan is like three different levels of hardcore. How do you survive in America without eating pizza?

 

[Albino Boo]

You will need to take vitamin b12 to keep your red blood cells production and brain working. Depending on the latitude that you are in and your skin tone you may need to take vitamin D or risk devolving rickets.

 

[BrawlMan]

All I have to say is that you better know what vegetables, fruits ,or vitamins have the proper protein.

 

[Recusant]

Not to mention- people who adopt vegetarianism or veganism gradually lose the ability to handle eating meat. If they try to eat it, they'll throw up. It can be regained, but that's neither a quick nor an easy process. In a first-world country with wide and easy food availability, that's very unlikely to be a problem, but our adaptability is probably the single biggest reason that it's me typing this and not a Neanderthal or some other branch of the family. Even in the unlikely event of a catastrophic environmental blow that radically changes food availability, a slow-build calorie-intensive livestock solution being the best course isn't particularly probable, but stranger things have happened- and even if you're a vegan, you're not a ruminant. You jeopardize your adaptability at your own peril.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Very limited booze selection. Booze is a food group, right?