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- According to a renowned British nutritionist, a trend of vegan and herbal diets might be to "lose weight" for future generations.
- She argues that animal products are the best source of choline, a nutrient essential for brain and liver health.
- The nutritionist is particularly concerned about vegan pregnant women, who she says do not consume enough choline to support the brain development of their growing baby.
- Critics, however, emphasized its advisory roles in the meat and egg industries and indicated that vegans had access to choline in both plants and supplements.
- Visit the INSIDER homepage for more.
Advocates of herbal diet are boiling this week after a respected British nutritionist has claimed that veganism could rob babies and children of an essential nutrient for brain development.
Emma Derbyshire, a nutrition consultant and author of a book on maternal nutrition, said that the UK could face a "potential choline crisis" in an article published Aug. 30 in the journal BMJ Nutrition , Prevention and Health.
Derbyshire argues that many adults do not consume enough choline, an essential nutrient in their diet, a problem exacerbated by the popularity of vegan or vegetable diets that eliminate good sources of choline such as meat and eggs. She warned that a lack of choline during pregnancy could compromise the cognitive development of infants.
"We risk losing our next-generation brain energy," Derbyshire told Britain's The Sun news agency.
Read more: 5 potential disadvantages of following a vegan diet
But other nutritionists have said that an herbal diet can provide a lot of choline and that pregnant vegans have the choice of using supplements. Critics also pointed out that Derbyshire had provided advisory services to the Meat Advisory Panel and the British Egg Information Service, listed as "competing interests" in the published article.
A lack of choline can cause serious health problems
Choline is produced in the liver in small amounts, but not enough to meet daily nutritional needs. So, you have to get it through food sources.
According to the US Department of Health, the nutrient is important for the health of the liver and metabolism, as well as for the brain, as it plays a role in the production of brain chemicals related to memory, mood and mood. muscle control.
Health officials recommend about 400 milligrams of choline a day to most adults, although recent research suggests that some people may need more choline than others because of their genes.
According to data cited by Derbyshire, choline deficiency is a problem for nearly 1 in 10 Americans. She said that a growing trend of herbal and vegan diets could have the unintended consequence of making it worse the problem, and asked why the choline deficiency had been neglected in his country. She also called for more research.
Derbyshire wrote that she was particularly concerned about choline deficiency during pregnancy, which can affect the development of the fetal brain and spinal cord.
Choline can be found in products of animal and non-animal origin
Derbyshire said that the best dietary sources of choline are beef and eggs, citing research that people who consume these foods are more likely to get enough choline than those who do not eat choline. Milk is also a good source.
But many herbal products contain enough choline, according to dietitian Heather Russell. For example, almonds, soy, beans, broccoli and rice are good sources of choline.
"This nutrient is widely used in plant-based foods because it is present in cell membranes, soy products, quinoa and broccoli are some of the best herbal sources," she says. she said in a statement from the Vegan Society, which described Derbyshire's paper as "sensational". "
The general consensus on health is that a herbal diet can be safe during pregnancy
Most health experts agree that eating herbal is not only safe but also optimal for your health.
"You do not need to take a choline supplement when you switch to a totally herbal diet if you eat a varied and balanced diet containing a lot of poorly processed herbal foods." Evidence shows that this way of eating can contribute to excellent health, "Russell said in the statement.
This is consistent with the information provided by the British Dietetic Association.
"You can absolutely satisfy the requirements with a vegan or vegetal diet," spokeswoman Bahee Van de Bor told the BBC. She added that good planning can help ensure that a diet is nutritious and that the most difficult ones can consider a choline supplement.
According to a 2015 survey of available research on veganism and pregnancy, dietary habits can also be safe for pregnant women "as long as attention is paid to the need for vitamins and trace elements".
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