Page 124 - Healthy (March - April 2020)

BALANCE

Understanding
your requirements

What we eat is linked to everything from
diabetes to cancer, but a ‘poor diet’ isn’t
one thing. ‘We all know if you eat bacon for
breakfast, ham for lunch and sausages for
dinner, you’re at high risk for poor health,
but you also are if you’re vitamin B12-
deficient,’ says Medlin. ‘Any food group
that you eliminate has a consequence.’
The experts we spoke to all share
concerns around mainstream messaging.
‘When vegan diets are discussed, people
should be supplemented with vitamin D on a daily basis, do not distinguish between their effects
but again, the snobbery around supplementation is causing at different stages of life,’ says Fewtrell.
some parents not to do this.’ ‘There are many potential advantages of
Even those making small adjustments to their diet need consuming fewer animal foods, for the
to be aware. Almost a quarter of Brits have swapped to population and the environment. However,
plant-based milks, and while they’re often fortiied with we need to highlight the fact that children,
vitamin D and calcium, producers don’t add iodine. A 2017 as well as pregnant and lactating women,
study of hundreds of pregnant women in southwest England have specific requirements.’
found 73 per cent weren’t getting enough of this mineral. When people go vegan for health
Iodine deiciency is a leading cause of preventable brain reasons, they may also misinterpret the
damage worldwide. Our main source is cow’s milk, so even evidence. Most studies compare a ‘typical
non-vegans who steer clear of dairy are at risk. Once again, Western diet’ to a vegan diet, and the former
the often well-meant rejection of ‘fortiied’ foods can play tends to be categorised as ‘high in animal
a role. ‘Companies are bringing out plant milks without any protein, sugar, starch, and fat’. That’s not
fortiication, which is irresponsible,’ says Medlin. what most health-conscious people eat,
Finally, iron, needed for healthy blood cells, is harder to so they’re probably already doing well.
get from plants, as ‘non-haem’ iron isn’t as easily absorbed ‘Ultimately, we’re arguing about nuances
as iron from animal products. It’s thought 50 per cent of of diet among the worried well, when we
vegetarians are iron-deicient – a particular concern for young should think about improving the advice for
bodies. ‘Low iron will mean children struggle with energy, those who would really benefit,’ says Medlin.
making them less likely to engage in learning,’ says Medlin.

I
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124 healthy-magazine.co.uk