Aren’t you sick and tired of reading or hearing reasons why veganism is supposedly bad for you? It’s time we separate the fact from fiction.

Myth 1: Vegans Don’t Get Important Nutrients

This one has circled so much on the internet that it needs to be lapped by some common sense! Vegans are not nutrient-deficient by default; rather, they can get most of their vitamins from plant-based sources. When it comes to some that are only found in animal sources, such as Vitamin B12, vitamins and supplements come to the rescue. The bottom line is that vegans need to be sure that they follow a healthy diet that is packed with nutrients.

Myth 2: Veganism is Bad for the Environment

Errr, really? Apparently soy and palm oil, which might feature in some vegan/vegetarian diets, are really destructive for the environment. And that is a fact. But who says the consumption of these are only committed by vegans? Lots of products contain palm oil, for instance. Let’s not forget how bad the meat industry is for the planet. Meat production is a large cause of CO2 production. In 2006, a study found that producing meat results in up to 22 per cent of greenhouse gases in the world every year. By choosing veganism, you help to reduce that.

Myth 3: It’s Not the Only Way to Reverse Heart Disease

If you’ve ever heard of programs about how a mostly vegan diet can reverse coronary heart disease, you might have been sceptical. But it can happen. Sure, it might not be the only lifestyle tip worth following for a healthier heart - exercise and some medication could obviously help - but it’s much healthier for you than animal products that can bump up your cholesterol.

Myth 4: Vegans Aren’t Naturally Healthier

This might be true, depending on the vegan in question. Once again, we can't generalize. Sure, if you eat lots of processed vegan foods that contain harmful ingredients or lots of fat, then you won’t be doing your body much good. However, if you stick to a vegan diet in the traditional sense, whereby most of your food is fresh and natural, then you will obviously be healthy and increase your lifespan. Plant foods such as seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruits contain plenty of nutrients and antioxidants, after all.

It's clear that we need to take vegan cons with a pinch of salt. However, they are not all focused on dragging down the vegan lifestyle choice. Rather, we can use them to become aware of possible problems we could face on the vegan journey to keep us healthy and vibrant!

*Image courtesy Flickr Creative Commons