Bupa experts slam ‘restrictive’ vegan diet and raise concern at ‘nutritional deficiencies’ [bestandroiddoubledinheadunit950.blogspot.com]

Bupa experts slam ‘restrictive’ vegan diet and raise concern at ‘nutritional deficiencies’ [bestandroiddoubledinheadunit950.blogspot.com]

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Valerie Maclean, health coach dietitian at Bupa UK raised concerns for those thinking over turning vegan.

Veganism has spiked in popularity in recent months, but Valerie had warnings for those following a vegan diet.

She said: “There is no denying that veganism can be restrictive.

“Another factor to consider is the nutritional deficiencies associated with a vegan diet. Traditionally, we’re able to get some of our “essential” nutrients from animal and dairy products.

“A vegan diet may lack essential amino acids, iron and omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 so it’s important to keep a varied diet.”

She also warned that it wasn’t just the health implications of eating this way people should be wary of – there could be social issues too.

She continued: “Despite its popularity, it can be time consuming initially to read food labels that you are purchasing to ensure they are vegan friendly. It can also be difficult in social situations, such as when dining out or eating at someone else’s home.

“Planning vegan meals may be challenging initially as you need to consider the overall balance and nutritional content of meals. Nutritional requirements vary between individuals and are dependent on a person’s height, weight, age and levels of activity.”

However, Valerie did note some health benefits of following a vegan diet, mostly linked to reduced intake of fat.

She explained: “The saturated fats in our diet that raise blood cholesterol levels come primarily from animal products. Avoiding foods which are typically high in saturated fat, such as red meat and cheese, can have a positive impact on blood cholesterol levels.

“Vegan diets can be generally lower in calories than non-vegan diets due to meat and dairy products being excluded from the diet. This can decrease the likelihood of diseases that are associated with being overweight such as diabetes, high blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease.”

But she also stressed it was important not to forget there is plenty of fat in a vegan diet too, and said: “It is still important to consider weight management as all types of fat, whether healthy like nuts, or unhealthy, still have the same calorific value.”

Instead of going fully vegan, Valerie suggested incorporating some of the more positive aspects of the diet into your lifestyle.

She suggested: “Try to limit red meat to once or twice a week and be mindful of quantity; a portion size of meat should be no bigger than the palm of your hand or replace red meat with chicken or fish which are leaner sources of protein or consider non-meat protein such as chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans.

“Consider alternative methods of cooking such as baking or grilling instead of frying.”

The vegan diet is not the only eating plan that Bupa health professionals raised concerns over – Rachel Eden, a Bupa dietitian, slammed the Paleo eating fad.

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http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/diets/773336/vegan-diet-bupa Bupa experts slam ‘restrictive’ vegan diet and raise concern at ‘nutritional deficiencies'

[bestandroiddoubledinheadunit950.blogspot.com]Bupa experts slam ‘restrictive’ vegan diet and raise concern at ‘nutritional deficiencies’