Health & Wellness

Plant-based diets risk 'dumbing down' the next generation, nutritionist warns

Nick McDermott
The Sun
Fri, 30 Aug 2019 11:57 UTC

A vegan diet may "dumb down" future kids, a nutritional expert has warned.

Writing in the health journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, Dr. Emma Derbyshire says a plant-based diet lacks choline — a key nutrient for mental development. It is mainly found in beef, eggs, dairy, fish and chicken.

According to Derbyshire, studies suggest low levels in pregnancy can harm the fetus and raise the child's risk of memory and brainpower problems.

Nutritionists also say nine in 10 adults are lacking in choline and that will worsen as more ditch meat and eggs.

"It could leave many women of childbearing age deficient in this key nutrient," Derbyshire said.

"We are at risk of dumbing down the brainpower of the next generation."

In 1998, recognizing the importance of choline, the US Institute of Medicine recommended minimum daily intakes. These range from 425 mg/day for women to 550 mg/day for men, and 450 mg/day and 550 mg/day for pregnant and breastfeeding women, respectively.

But Derbyshire told BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health that pregnant vegans can take supplements.

Comment: Choline is just the beginning. The vegan diet, no matter how much it's supplemented, is woefully deficient in a number of micro and macro nutrients leading to degenerating health. Adults choosing to malnourish themselves is one thing - forcing it on children is criminal.

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Reader Comments

Bezel Bub · 2019-10-05T14:40:17Z

A vegan diet may "dumb down" future kids, a nutritional expert has warned

Worse off than Millennial's? That is a frightening thought...

agni · 2019-10-05T20:07:01Z

Worse than someone who raised millenials you mean ? After all, they are just results of stupid ass upbringing.

Bezel Bub · 2019-10-05T20:20:52Z

agni After all, they are just results of stupid ass upbringing.

Partially, maybe, but not entirely....

glasses0420 · 2019-10-07T13:28:38Z

Worse than someone who raised millenials you mean ? After all, they are just results of stupid ass upbringing.

I can agree with you here, to an extent. Upbringing? The overwhelming majority of Millennials were raised in single parent broken homes, by absentee parents, or pawned off on grandparents at best, and yet the gen X parents that created the problem and the boomer generation before them who were handed everything and are still siphoning all they can for themselves to this day are scratching their heads in obliviousness.

sbc · 2019-10-07T14:26:39Z

agni you maybe forgot about a society where both parents have to work full time plus to make ends meet, thus leaving their children to be raised by an indoctrinating public school system and then further misguided by peer pressure.

you maybe have parent issues you shouldn't project?

or you should just think a little deeper?

your comment in my opinion really was a cheap cop out towards any real debate thought.

agni · 2019-10-08T00:22:47Z

Perhaps i do have parent issues, perhaps may be you do. Cop out ? Kind of funny you declared shutdown for "any kind of debate" yourself.

Here is the thing, it's parents job to raise the kids though, not schools, neither the streets. No wonder why parents bitch at teachers nowadays: why my child gets bad grades, why my child behavior is so poor. Oh, no, how did we end up with generation "whatever". Is it not the adults/parents who build upon society and define the environment ? Whats the role of adults in creating next generation, do tell, cause according to you they are not responsible for any kinds of shits, or at least not responsible for consequences of their consent/doing.

cracker · 2019-10-05T21:13:42Z

all I can say anymore is that it's good to be old

sbc ·

cracker

· 2019-10-07T14:27:00Z

Dus7 · 2019-10-06T07:14:52Z

Humans survived for millennia eating whatever they could find, and we're probably adapted to do so. But of course, all the roots and meat and worms and things were 'natural' with no added chemicals, organic even. We have to be careful, but ultimately it's a personal decision based partly on one's own taste and digestion. Nagging and debating doesn't help anything.

Christian83 · 2019-10-06T14:24:54Z

If people want to be vegan then good luck to them I say. It’s when the rest of the population is guilt tripped into eating less meat, then that frustrates me. If we were meant to eat nothing but plants then please explain why we have incisors/canine teeth. Or is my body mistaken or wrong as well?? Food naziism.

katesisco · 2019-10-07T12:39:08Z

Perhaps this article and others is the lead-in to the fact that the Intelligence Quotient of the global populace has already dropped through the basement floor. Undoubtably due to long-term low-dose CARBON DIOXIDE EXPOSURE. Known here in the US by its moniker "winter flu." Undoubtably also, the blame, in twenty years, will be laid a the door of low consumption of meat.

Sometimes I think the driving force behind our global wars, and the choice of US global real estate, is the siting of the base next to ocean breezes bring oxygen, and the crushing of high intelligence of areas that do not need to expose the people to carbon dioxide, is a despicable intended outcome of global power.

sbc · 2019-10-07T14:28:52Z

My mom ate a vegan diet while she was pregnant.....

She said they were easier to catch and didn't struggle as much.

Highland Fleet Lute · 2019-10-07T14:40:38Z

sbc Pretty high in oxalates though. Did she cry tears of crystal glass when she had you?

sbc · 2019-10-07T16:35:43Z

Highland Fleet Lute how'd you know?

Highland Fleet Lute · 2019-10-07T21:20:02Z

sbc Oh, I picked it up from that Luigi board I bought from that vegan (or was she a witch?).

sbc · 2019-10-08T14:12:55Z

Highland Fleet Lute Luigi board, you mean Ouija?

Highland Fleet Lute · 2019-10-08T14:29:45Z

sbc LOL. Just havin' a larf with you, my man.

sbc ·

Highland Fleet Lute

· 2019-10-09T00:25:50Z

"There is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?" V for Vendetta: [Link] R.C.

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Saker: Good/Great stuff - typical for 'The Saker'. PHENOMENALLY 'Must-Read' article! R.C.

Rowan Cocoan

Health & Wellness

Plant-based diets risk 'dumbing down' the next generation, nutritionist warns

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