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Vegans take note: A blockbuster new study from Austria which is sure to send shock waves and generate massive denials among vegetarians has concluded that people who eat only vegetables are less healthy in key health categories and have a poorer quality of life than people who include some meat in their diets.

[Editor’s note: I don’t necessarily agree with every conclusion of this study, but I thought this would be an interesting item for discussion, even among vegetarians. – Mike]

Among the study findings:

• Vegetarians visit their doctors more often and are more prone to allergies 

• They also have a 50% increased risk of both heart attacks and cancer 

• They are also more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders

The study did find that vegetarians had some significant health advantages, such as being more physically active, drinking less alcohol and smoking less tobacco; however, vegetarians’ health overall was deemed to be unhealthy compared to those who included some meat in their diets.

Avoiding meat entirely often leads to nutritional deficiencies

Meats contain some essential nutrients that either are not found in vegetables or are found in very small amounts. Though it is possible for vegetarians to be very healthy if they plan well and supplement well, apparently most do not do so. As a result, many who avoid meat entirely are often deficient in essential nutrients which are needed for optimum health.

The most glaring example of nutritional deficiencies in non-meat eaters is vitamin B12 deficiency. A study published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2009 found that a whopping 90% of vegetarians were deficient in vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells.

According to the study, people who avoid meat entirely are 50% more likely to have heart attacks and 50% more likely to have cancer. The study also found that the huge majority of non-meat eaters are deficient in essential nutrients. The most glaring example found was that a whopping 90% of vegetarians were deficient in essential vitamin B12.