• Evkob@lemmy.ca
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    5 months ago

    Being vegan is recent fad or trendy thing from the perspective of world history.

    Abstaining from animal products has been a thing for at least a couple centuries (see al-Ma’arri)

    Nutritionally, veganism is not healthy without an extensive amount of supplements.

    The only supplement you must absolutely take on a vegan diet is vitamin B12. The source of vitamin B12 in omnivore diets is also supplements, albeit given to the animals raised for slaughter rather than taken directly. Supplementing omega-3 is also highly recommended for vegans. The other ones you’ll hear mentioned are vitamin D3 and iodine, with both of which many foods are fortified since most people, including those who eat an omnivorous diet, don’t get enough of these through their food. This is hardly what I’d call “an extensive amount of supplements”. I’ve been vegan for 7 years and the only supplements I take are B12, as well as vitamin D during the winter months since I live in a northern area.

    Veganism is an opinion or philosophy, it does not come from any doctrinal teachings with historical writings to count as a belief system on the same level as someone who can only eat certified kosher food.

    I agree, a person’s carefully thought-out ethical decisions about what they consume are different from someone doing something because an old book tells them to.

    • Victoria Antoinette @lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      The only supplement you must absolutely take on a vegan diet is vitamin B12.

      you’re not a nutritionist. ok, i’m assuming that. but i know you’re not my nutritionist and it’s highly unlikely you’re a nutritionist for anyone here. please do not tell people what their dietary needs are.

      • Evkob@lemmy.ca
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        5 months ago

        You’re completely right, I am not a nutritionist, and honestly I’d truly hope no one takes their nutrition advice from strangers on Lemmy. Next time I’ll add a disclaimer though, that’s a fair enough point.

        That being said, I’ve been vegan for over 7 years, supplementing only B12 (and D during the winter) and I’m not dead yet.

    • Auli@lemmy.ca
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      5 months ago

      So if B12 is only available by supplements one way or another. How did we survive before supplements?

      Looking it up ruminants produce it naturally so wouldn’t say we get it cause cows are getting shots.

      • Floey@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        It doesn’t only come from supplements, but it’s how most people get it these days. Livestock aren’t sticking their faces in wild dirt and flora very much, so most need supplements. Also even with livestock being given supplements there is a surprising amount of B12 deficiency in the omnivore population, arguably more should be supplementing.

      • Aux@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        We ate a lot more meat. The modern American diet pyramid puts plant matter at the base, while historically meat was at the base. The longest living and healthiest populations today eat a lot of meat, up to 99% of their diet.

        • grrgyle@slrpnk.net
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          5 months ago

          What do you mean by this? Do you mean like the people living in the so called Blue Zones?

          Eat mostly plants, especially beans. And eat meat rarely, in small portions of 3 to 4 ounces. Blue Zoners eat portions this size just five times a month, on average.

          • Aux@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            Gotta love that vegan propaganda! Have you ever seen Ikaria? They don’t grow shit there as the island is just one big mountain. Their main food is sea food and dairy. And stop with Okinawa already! It has been debunked by Okinawans themselves - their main food is pork. Okinawa is the biggest consumer of pork in the whole of Japan.