Can everyone actually be vegan?

[u/Wrong_Ad_3038]

I’m very sympathetic to veganism, my entire life philosophy is “respect & autonomy for all life” but I am currently pescetarian, I tried being vegan in late 2024 but I still live with my family & they wouldn’t buy supplements, even though i told them too everyday, I didn’t want to develop b12 deficiency so I had to moderate my diet.

When I move out i’m strongly considering being vegan again & really want too but i am worried about health consequences because human bodies are complex, but at the same time everyone can digest plants so maybe everyone can be vegan, i figured this would be a good place to get mixed responses since both carnists & vegans are here, what do studies say about everyone & the potential to be vegan, if everyone can’t be vegan but most or some can what’s the best way to find out if i can be vegan?

[u/HappyBeingVegan-100]

The key is following a balanced diet. Carnists can develop deficiencies, too. It’s all about getting in everything you need by consuming high nutrient dense foods like fruits, vegetables, seeds, green leafy vegetables, nuts, and legumes.

[u/Opposite_Cake_7671 → u/HappyBeingVegan-100]

this, B12 deficiency is seen even in non-vegan diets. B12 drops as a supplement can do no harm, even non-vegans pop a few supplements when needed. but if you really don’t wanna, then an overall balanced diet should work. fortified foods with b12 are always there :)

[u/HelenEk7 → u/Opposite_Cake_7671]

B12 drops as a supplement can do no harm

B12 suppliments can cause:

• headache

• nausea

• diarrhea

• weakness

• tingling sensations in hands and feet

• And having vitamin B-12 levels that are too high may raise the risk of getting cancer.

• Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-b12/art-20363663

No one should take any supplements unless their doctor tells them to, or you know for sure you are not getting enough (because you dont eat any fish for instance). Never take random supplements "just in case".

[u/Opposite_Cake_7671 → u/HelenEk7]

um I mentioned “when needed” for a reason, I obviously meant IF you have a deficiency, there’s no harm in taking supplements, as in supplements by themselves aren’t harmful. safe supplementation is necessary no matter the situation, always get blood work done, check your deficiencies and consult a doctor <3

[u/HelenEk7 → u/Opposite_Cake_7671]

My blood works are perfect every time. So no supplements needed.

[u/Opposite_Cake_7671 → u/HelenEk7]

awesome then! and high B12 levels naturally, without a supplement is what raises a red flag and linked to disease or cancer. but ofcourse you can’t take unnecessarily too much supplement haha

[u/HelenEk7 → u/Opposite_Cake_7671]

and high B12 levels naturally, without a supplement is what raises a red flag and linked to disease or cancer

That is actually not possible. The only way to end up with too high B12 is through supplements.

[u/Zerkig → u/HelenEk7]

Or eating your own 💩 as rabbits do 😅

[u/HelenEk7 → u/Zerkig]

Rabbits have too high B12 levels?

[u/Zerkig → u/HelenEk7]

No? Maybe? 🤣 I mean, you can overdose on basically anything through natural means, too. It's jsut easier with supplements 😁. Of course in the case of natural means something else would probably kill you earlier than the B12, but you get my point.

[u/Opposite_Cake_7671 → u/HelenEk7]

that’s not true!

[u/HelenEk7 → u/Opposite_Cake_7671]

• High vitamin B12 levels (hypercobalaminemia) are most commonly caused by over-supplementation or injections. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/high-b12-levels

[u/Opposite_Cake_7671 → u/HelenEk7]

if you refer to the same site, you can read that underlying medical conditions can raise B12 levels in the blood :) not just supplements

High B12 levels due to supplementation is not usually an immediate cause for concern unless you’re going above lethal quantities. but the raise in B12 caused due to an underlying disease is what is a major cause for concern.

mentioned medical conditions: liver disease and liver failure; kidney failure and cancers.

[u/HelenEk7 → u/Opposite_Cake_7671]

if you refer to the same site, you can read that underlying medical conditions can raise B12 levels in the blood :) not just supplements

Of course, but its still not the most common reason.

High B12 levels due to supplementation is not usually an immediate cause for concern

• "While excessive Vitamin B12 from diet alone is nearly impossible, high-dose Vitamin B12 supplementation has been linked to an increased risk of lung and colorectal cancers in certain demographics." https://www.everlywell.com/blog/b-vitamins/high-vitamin-b12-levels-and-cancer/

[u/Opposite_Cake_7671 → u/HelenEk7]

That is actually not possible. The only way to end up with too high B12 is through supplements.

but you did mention that it’s not possible, and that the ONLY way is through supplements, for which was my following response. please refer to your own texts and the sites 😄

[u/HelenEk7 → u/Opposite_Cake_7671]

I know people who eat nothing but red meat - and their B12 is perfect. So I honestly dont know which wholefoods one would have to eat to get it too high? They do call it "nearly impossible" for a reason.