Variety of vegetables on a table.

Meatless Diet DEPLETES This Heart-saving Nutrient

Long-term readers will know I’m pro-vegetable.

In fact, I spend most of my time telling my patients to eat MORE of them!

But becoming a vegetarian or vegan?

That’s another story.

The mainstream has spent years demonizing meat, but cutting out meat from your diet could put you in danger.

According to a new study, vegans and vegetarians get 23 percent less of this heart-saving nutrient.

And once you hear the results, you’ll be thankful for that mountain of leftover Thanksgiving turkey!

It’s common knowledge that people who skip out on meat also miss key nutrients, including vitamin B12 and certain amino acids, because these are only found in meat. It’s a catch-22.

And now, recent research out of Osaka, Japan, has found that vegetarians and vegans have 23 percent lower levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) than people who eat meat.

CoQ10 is a nutrient necessary for energy production, as well as a powerful antioxidant. People who don’t get enough CoQ10 inadvertently harm their hearts and their brains.

Low levels can lead to outright symptoms like:

· fatigue,

· muscle pain,

· and a weakened immune system.

There’s been a wave of interest in meatless diets (even fast food chains like McDonald’s and Burger King are hopping on board).

However, one of my biggest problems with going vegetarian or vegan is that it can lead to a diet full of processed foods. Most meat substitutes are FILLED with preservatives and contain a large amount of vegetable oils, which can increase inflammation and lead to disease.

If you insist on being vegetarian or vegan for ethical, environmental, or religious reasons I understand. You just need to take extra care to get the nutrients your body needs.

Make sure you are taking a good B-complex vitamin that includes vitamin B12. You should also supplement with 100mg of CoQ10 daily. And consider supplementing your protein as well to make sure you’re getting all the essential amino acids.

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

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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