Why ‘Vegan’ Does Not Always Equal Healthy

What is your definition of ‘healthy food’? This is something that I see has been so wildly misconstrued in today’s supermarket culture. 

I see time and time again when my patients visit me that there isn’t a very strong understanding of what makes a food healthy or not healthy. 

This has particularly become an issue as more and more people move to a vegan or plant-based diet. 

Why Labels are an Issue

First things first, I want to acknowledge that the reason for a large part of all of the confusion around healthy food, is that more people than ever are looking to make a shift into healthy living. Of all the things to be trending, how wonderful that it’s our health and wellbeing!

This desire has, in turn, fuelled a market, and big brands are there to capitalize on this market, by adding things like ‘natural’ ‘vegan’ ‘light’ ‘diet’ to their products in an effort to boost sales. 

The problem is, these labels are not regulated, and actually mean very little in terms of how healthy a product is. 

Believe it or not, it would be perfectly legal for Cheetos to be labeled ‘natural’ and Oreo cookies are ‘vegan.’ I hope we can all agree that neither of those are healthy choices. 

With the exception of ‘organic’ and ‘non-GMO,’ most labels are virtually meaningless when it comes to the quality of the actual food, and are often used as marketing tactics to drive sales. 

‘Junk Food Vegans’

This issue with labeling coupled with the rise in plant-based eating has led to the rise in what is called ‘junk food vegans.’ 

These are people who are strictly following a plant-based or vegan diet but are not actually eating healthy food at all. 

People typically start down this path because they hear of the reported health benefits of eating plant-based, but they actually end up with a diet that is full of added sugars, high in hydrogenated fat and sodium, and based primarily on processed foods. 

This is where it becomes important to stress that vegan ≠ healthy.

A trip to your local grocery store will show you the number of products promoting that they are vegan or plant-based. From ice cream, to mock meats, to frozen dinners, baked goods and other sweet treats, to cheese, butter, and even yogurt. 

But Dr. Marita, How Can We Be Sure the Food I’m Eating is REALLY Healthy?

Believe it or not, it’s actually very simple. Like in any diet, processed foods should be kept to a minimum for good health. 

I am a big advocate for eating whole, organic, non-GMO foods. The rule of thumb is, the closer it is to how it came out of the earth, the better. 

Think fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, whole grains, non-GMO, organic. 

A healthy plant-based diet includes a wide variety of whole foods, with other foods sitting more in the realm of a ‘treat.’ 

Is a Vegan or Plant-Based Diet For Everyone?

The other thing to consider as we see the rise in vegan and plant-based eating is that it truly isn’t for everyone. 

As a naturopathic doctor, I see many patients who are thriving on plant based, and I also see those who aren’t. 

For some, a vegan diet has led to a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, weight loss, more energy, and better digestion, but I have also seen patients whose health suffered from removing animal products from their diet. 

The moral is, each of our bodies is so unique, and there is absolutely not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to eating. 

You can also adopt a more moderate way of incorporating more plant-based meals into your life to allow for a more diverse and versatile diet overall.

What else to Consider in Going Plant-Based?

There are certain key nutrients that are difficult to get from a vegan diet. Things like iron, and vitamin B12 can be hard to get adequately from plant sources. 

For anyone making the switch over to plant-based, I recommend doing A LOT of research or working with a healthcare provider to make sure you plan a diet or supplementation plan that accommodates all of your dietary needs. 

What about the Environmental Impacts?

Many people choose a plant-based diet because of the reported environmental benefits. However, I think it’s important to keep in mind that large-scale industrialization and food production, in general, carries the largest footprint on the earth. 

I always recommend supporting your local farmer’s market first and then supplementing at a supermarket. 

Small scale farming that regenerates the soil is the best way to both healthy bodies and a healthy planet.