WARNING: Going Vegetarian Could DESTROY Your Health

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted October 15, 2022

When it comes to diet, long-time readers know where I stand.

I encourage you to eat lots of healthy proteins (the less processing done to them, the better). And stop obsessing over the fat content of those foods.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not a vegetable fan, too. In fact, I’m firmly PRO produce.

Veggies are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. You should be including plenty of them in your diet.

But going vegetarian? THAT’S a whole different story.

The fact is, limiting your diet to vegetables alone can have some serious health consequences.

Humans are supposed to eat meat.

Eating meat and other proteins helps keep your blood sugar under control. And it supplies your body with the essential nutrients you need to survive in our modern toxic and low-nutrient food environment.

I was reminded of this recently when I read a study in the journal BMC Medicine. It linked avoiding meat to a significantly higher risk of bone fractures in women.

The study followed 26,318 middle-aged women and found that vegetarians had a 33 percent increased risk for hip fracture.

That’s a HUGE jump in risk! And I suspect that danger will likely rise the longer you’re vegetarian and the older you get.

Breaking a bone is always serious business. But a broken hip when you’re no longer a spring chicken is VERY risky for your long-term health.

Pain and discomfort are a given with any broken bone, of course. But a break in the lower half of your body means spending a lot more time in bed and a longer recovery.

With such limited mobility, your muscle mass decreases, and inflammation increases. Both of which can shorten your life.

The reason vegetarians tend to have more problems with their bones has to do with protein. You likely already know that you need calcium to build bones. But you may not realize all bone is built on a protein matrix.

In other words, you need plenty of protein for a strong skeleton.

But don’t stop there. Building healthy bones is a team effort. Let me show you how to do it with my Healthy Bone Plan:

• Protein is a forgotten nutrient for good bone health. Most proteins help with bone growth, but collagen is essential for building solid bones. I encourage taking a powdered collagen product like I do because it’s hard to get enough of the nutrient through diet alone.
• Vitamin C is another vital nutrient for bone health. C works with protein to create the collagen matrix that holds all the bone minerals. Bell peppers, strawberries, and citrus fruits are all rich in C. Supplements are also available.
• Vitamin D is one of the more important nutrients you can take to help build good strong bones. It’s necessary to absorb calcium which is essential for a strong skeleton. Getting at least 15 minutes of sunscreen-free sunlight exposure daily should help boost your levels. D supplements are also available anywhere vitamins are sold.
• Vitamin K is another essential and often forgotten nutrient for bone building. Green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, and lettuce are rich in K. Supplements are available too. But keep in mind if you’re on blood thinners, you should check with your doctor before taking vitamin K.
• Many minerals are also crucial for good bone health, including magnesium, boron, copper, and chromium.
• Exercise doesn’t just help your muscles grow. It also helps build strong bones. For good bone health, you HAVE to keep your body moving. Walking and running are excellent choices.

Going meat-free can have unintended consequences for your health. It can rob your body of vitamin B12 and certain amino acids. Plus, it’s linked to lower coenzyme Q10 levels putting your heart and brain at risk.

I encourage you to eat lots of delicious and healthy vegetables. Just don’t make them ALL you eat if you want to maintain strong, healthy bones well into your senior years.

P.S. Think you should be taking calcium supplements for better bone health? Think again! In fact, loading up on calcium could end up damaging your BRAIN. Find out the shocking truth here.

Source:

“J.E. Risk of hip fracture in meat-eaters, pescatarians, and vegetarians: results from the UK Women’s Cohort Study.” BMC Med 20, 275 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02468-0

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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