The Vivacious Vegan

         There is something about a healthy vegan that is not quite identifiable. As Ellen DeGeneres commented to Bill Clinton about his recent choice to become vegan, "you just keep looking better and better" ("Bill Clinton on Going Vegan"). It’s a look; it’s an aura that makes healthy vegans look healthier than non-vegans. Perhaps what creates this “aura” are the positive effects that a vegan diet has on the brightness of one’s skin and energy. Regardless, the health benefits of veganism are not only seen at face value, but also through their effects on degenerative diseases. In fact, “…a low-fat, fiber-rich vegan diet is likely to reduce risk for [the] disorders which collectively are responsible for the majority of the deaths and hospitalizations in western society” (McCarty, 473).

        As observed in the typical “western” diet, high intake of essential amino acids present in animal products puts the consumer at risk for age-related diseases (McCarty, 459), such as arthritis, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Because animal protein is rich in essential amino acids, it “up-regulates” IGF-I activity in the body (462). This increase in IGF-I activity can lead to inflammation, increased cell turnover, and is associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. The reduction of this IGF-I activity upon elimination of all animal proteins from the diet has positive effects on rheumatoid arthritis, the development of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

        To treat rheumatoid arthritis, veganism should be promoted more often because of its anti-inflammatory impact on the body (McCarty, 468). In fact, many patients with rheumatoid arthritis go to Nordic spas where they participate in a one-week juice fast followed by a daily vegan eating regimen. This treatment provides significant symptomatic relief for arthritis as well as other inflammatory diseases as reported by the participants (468); and these spas are not the only record of veganism as a treatment for arthritis. Other clinical studies also suggest that veganism is one of the best natural ways to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis (259) because in as little as one month, patients can already experience a lowered disease activity (Glick-Bauer, 4831).

        Another instance of the preventive qualities of a vegan diet deal with its positive implications on the development of cancer. Because the increased IGF-I activity caused by animal proteins functions as a cell “progression factor” and promotes cell turnover, research indicates that the implementation of a vegan diet has a positive impact on the prevention of cancer in the human body (McCarty, 462). Contrary to the effects of animal proteins, vegan proteins like soy decrease IGF-I activity which consequently impede cancer induction. These proteins are especially effective with cancers related to insulin resistance such as breast and colon cancer as well as prostate cancer (459). 

        Finally, vegan diets have positive impacts on vascular health because of their profound effects on cholesterol levels (McCarty, 468). Compared to omnivores, vegans consume much more fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, soy, and nuts. By eating a diet based on foods that have great cardioprotective effects, vegans lower their cholesterol level and decrease the risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease (Craig, 1628). In fact, in one of the first studies on the health benefits of veganism conducted in 1970, scientists Ellis and Montegriffo recorded that vegans had lower cholesterol levels than their omnivorous counterparts (Ellis, 253). Plant-based foods also decrease IGF-I activity as discussed earlier, which decreases the production and activation of white blood cells (McCarty, 468).