most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-26T02:49:03Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/question/126974 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness Nemesis 2012-06-11T15:17:15Z 2012-10-22T05:23:12Z

<p>A study conducted found a correlation between the adaptation of a vegetarian diet and an elevated risk of mental illness (neuroticism, major depression, OCD, phobias, etc) in comparison to a matched non-vegetarian group which took socio-economic factors into account (so that it wasn't just elite, financially well-off vegetarians vs. trailer trash junk food eaters). One of the possible reasons listed for the high-rate of depression and social anxiety was how vegetarians negatively define themselves by what they <strong>don't</strong> eat (ie, meat).</p> <p>What would they find if they polled the Paleo community?</p> <p><a href="http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/pdf/1479-5868-9-67.pdf" rel="nofollow">Vegetarian diet and mental disorders: results from a representative community survey</a></p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/127000#127000 VandyGear03 2012-06-11T16:58:40Z 2012-06-11T16:58:40Z

<p>My n=1 experience is that vegetarianism greatly contributed to 10 years of depression and anti-depressants. Once I began eating a Paleo diet, I was able to eliminate the drugs for the first time in my adult life. I wish I had known that I might be doing myself such a disservice by trying to eat "responsibly."</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/127012#127012 Roth 2012-06-11T17:39:42Z 2012-06-11T17:39:42Z

<p>Vegetarianism (and by extension veganism) has been linked time and time again with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia/EDNOS. </p> <p>Many young men and women who develop eating disorders often start out as vegetarians and severely restrict their fat intake.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/127017#127017 Korion 2012-06-11T17:43:13Z 2012-06-11T17:43:13Z

<p>There's nothing wrong with vegetarianism, as long as you don't replace meat with tofu or make other silly choices. I'm practically vegetarian right now, apart from the occasional oysters and liver.</p> <p>I think the problem here is the lack of fat-soluble vitamins.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/127068#127068 Timothy 2012-06-11T21:23:28Z 2012-06-11T21:23:28Z

<p>Not surprising at all. I suspect there is a decent correlation between paleo dieting and mental illness as well.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/127070#127070 Ben 2012-06-11T21:34:30Z 2012-06-11T21:34:30Z

<p>I have been vegetarian for about 5 years before I got majors health complaints, which eventually resulted in serious disease and I believe my diet to be the most important factor contributing to it. I believe that there are two main reasons why a purely vegetarian diet can be unhealthy:</p> <ul> <li><p>Long-term starvation: lack of nutrients that are only or mostly found in animal products</p></li> <li><p>High in carbohydrates, low in protein, low in fat: vegetarians usually eat high carbohydrate diets, with lots of grains/grainy products and very little protein and fat. The protein they eat often comes from products like seitan (almost pure gluten... poison!), fat is nearly always absent.</p></li> </ul> <p>Is vegetarianism always bad? I don't think so. Is it hard to live healthily in the long-term on a vegetarian diet? Most definitely. The problem is most of the issues only occur after having been vegetarian for a very long time, while (a) the damage has already been done and (b) most people don't associate their complaints with the diet.</p> <p>As for the mental illness, I believe it is known that high-carbohydrate diets can contribute to mental illnesses, and that low-carbohydrate diets can contribute to relieving symptoms associated with mental illness (that's the point of the GAPS-diet). </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/127707#127707 VB 2012-06-14T06:10:48Z 2012-06-14T06:10:48Z

<p>Thanks for sharing! Next time I see a vegetarian or a vegan, I know what NOT TO SAY. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/147536#147536 Veganvspaleo 2012-09-06T14:10:02Z 2012-09-06T14:10:02Z

<p>I think this could be a case of someone playing with statistics. I find it very likely that people with mantle illness choose to follow vegetarian, vegan, or even paleo diets and that it is not that the illness is caused by the diet. People who have eating disorders or history of being OCD would be much more likely to choose a controlled diet than the general population. I think this is a case of someone using the statistics to say what they want them to say.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/147545#147545 alligator 2012-09-06T14:40:44Z 2012-09-06T14:40:44Z

<p>Does that mean dairy consumption is correlated with higher incidence of mental illness? Shouldn't it, considering we're talking about vegetarians and not vegans?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/147834#147834 the paleo elephant 2012-09-07T19:15:28Z 2012-09-07T19:15:28Z

<p>Interesting discussion. I do think it's possible to be healthy as a vegetarian if you do eggs and/or full-fat dairy. And run like hell from soy.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/147886#147886 Becca 2012-09-08T02:11:58Z 2012-09-08T02:11:58Z

<p>A while after becoming vegetarian my anxiety and depression increased. It's that that i didnt have it before but the diet made it worse, to the point where i became agoraphobic and it brought out other phobias as well. Once i went back to animal meat the symtoms decreased but did not totally go away. My opinion would be that if you are predisposed to mental illness a vegitarian diet can manifest symptoms. I think it's partially due to surgar highs and lows from eating a high carb diet and vitamin deficienties. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/147978#147978 Bailey 2012-09-08T17:05:49Z 2012-09-08T17:05:49Z

<p>I agree with the thought that the personality type of the vegetarian is probably very neurotic in the first place. Nothing wrong with that, as I am one of them. Also, they (we) tend to be somewhat sensitive types to the suffering of farm animals and the like. However, there are way too many studies espousing the phytochemical, antioxidants, etc in the vegetarian diet, so I think it is good, but only that animal fats and fat soluble vitamins are missing.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/126974/study-vegetarianism-correlated-with-higher-incidence-of-mental-illness/157228#157228 Dana 2012-10-22T05:23:12Z 2012-10-22T05:23:12Z

<p>There is logic behind the study, but not like you would think. Typically, we are raised as omnivores. As such, we learn to eat a relatively balanced diet from our predecessors. Many vegans and vegetarians came to it after this initially established diet indoctrination. As with anything new, there's a learning curve. If you simply cut out animal products, you're bound to leave out important nutrients. If you do your homework, however, complete and healthy nutrition can be achieved on a vegan or vegetarian diet. After all, the animals you get your nutrients from originally got them for vegetation... </p> <p>I have just recently become very aware that many "mental illnesses" are really no more than nutrient deficiencies. When addressed, no more "mental illness" exists.</p> <p>The key in any healthy diet, which the paleo diet seems to have simply put in simply terms, is to get away from processed and genetically modified foods. We need real, whole food to thrive, whatever the diet.</p>