Top 3 Reasons to Reconsider Being a ‘Junk Food’ Vegan.

A lot of vegans turned vegan simply to help save the animals. As a result, many do not care about their health and would rather indulge in the many vegan junk foods/fast foods offered and I was one of them. Eating junk food, even if it is plant based, can take a toll on one’s body. In addition, consuming processed vegan foods and eating at fast food restaurants tend to be more expensive.

Here are 3 reasons why being a junk food vegan could be detrimental to your health:

1. The biggest concern for vegans is getting enough vitmains and minerals. The two that vegans often find themselves lacking in are iron and B12. However, vegans aren’t the only ones with nutrient deficiencies, so everyone should pay close attention to their nutrient intake. Without proper nutrient intake, everything with your health deteriorates.

So what does this mean?

If you are constantly eating vegan junk food such as fries and pizza, you will be missing key nutrients. Even if you eat a whole grain pizza with spinach, cashew cheese, pepperphoni made from substantial ingredients, you’ll be missing a vitamin or mineral. If the food happens to have all the nutrients you need, it most likely won’t be enough. This is because junk food/fast food wasn’t designed to be eaten as breakfast, lunch AND dinner. So you should eat these foods in moderation or the best option is to make your own healthy version.

2. Aside from getting the nutrients we need, we also should strive to prevent and help treat diseases and health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, psoriasis, eczema, and etc. Vegan diets contain no cholesterol, however, foods (especially processed) can contain large amounts of salt and sugar. Although, the sugar used is usually a healthier version like agave or cane sugar, you should still consume these foods in moderation. A lot of brands use table salt which has been linked to health issues like high blood pressure. But even if more brands used salts like pink Himalayan salt, it should be eaten in moderation as well.

3. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. If you are eating too much sugary, salty, or even fatty (good fats incl.) foods you could experience weight gain and acne. It could also potentially worsen any health conditions you have such as eczema or high blood pressure.

Here’s an account from a Facebook post:

Being vegan is awesome; however, just being vegan does not mean one is consuming a healthy diet. A while ago I attended a large vegan food festival here in Portland, Oregon that was attended by thousands of vegans, and the majority of them were overweight and looked unhealthy. One can be vegan and readily consume all manner of processed foods filled with excess oils, sugars, sodium, preservatives and other chemicals, etc.

These were my reasons for reconsidering a vegan junk food diet. It took me a while to finally stop eating as much junk as I was. Processed foods were designed to be addicting after all. So pace yourself. Eat treats as a treat – every once and awhile. Moderation is key!