A footnote about animal products & medical necessity
According to the world's largest organization of dietetic professionals (formerly the American Dietetic Association, now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), a B12-fortified, whole-food plant-sourced diet can supply everything your body needs, and such a diet likely confers significant health benefits.*
Kaiser Permanente's medical journal published a nutrition update for physicians in the spring of 2013 which recommends that plant-based diets become the new norm. The article concludes, "Further research is needed to find ways to make plant-based diets the new normal for our patients and employees… We should invite our colleagues, patients, and their families to a shared decision-making process with the goal of adopting a plant-based diet and a regular exercise program. We should invite health care teams to complete a course on healthy eating and active living. We should encourage staff to be knowledgeable about plant-based nutrition."
But are there exceptions? That is, are there cases when animal products are actually a medical necessity? Yes, though they are exceedingly rare. For instance, certain genetic defects can prevent the normal production of compounds usually supplied by one's own body. (Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome affects 1 in 20-60,000 births, and carnitine transporter deficiency affects 1 in 40,000 in Japan, 1 in 100,000 generally.) G6PD enzyme deficiency is a condition which, only in the most severe cases, might require one to exclude not just fava beans, but all legumes or risk hemolytic crisis—and without legumes as a lysine source, some animal sources of lysine might be needed in the diet. A combination of serious food allergies could present a similar situation.
More common, however, are individuals without a specific diagnosis but whose experience leads them to conclude that they need animal products. Personal experience is powerful, even if it does not meet the standards of the scientific method. For instance, we know of some authors and bloggers (here, here, and here) who quit eating animal products, experienced a decline in health, resumed eating them and started feeling better. These individuals concluded that animal products supply something not provided by a plant-sourced diet (without a determination of exactly what). The conclusions of one such author, however, have been directly challenged. Meanwhile, we know of others who quit eating animal products, failed to thrive, then diagnosed and resolved the issue while still following a plant-sourced diet. (See this interview with Jack Norris, RD, as well as this post.)
A reminder: just because food is plant-sourced doesn't make it good for your health. After all, OREO® cookies and Coke® are plant-sourced items, yet they are calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods.
Kaiser Permanente's medical journal published a nutrition update for physicians in the spring of 2013 which recommends that plant-based diets become the new norm. The article concludes, "Further research is needed to find ways to make plant-based diets the new normal for our patients and employees… We should invite our colleagues, patients, and their families to a shared decision-making process with the goal of adopting a plant-based diet and a regular exercise program. We should invite health care teams to complete a course on healthy eating and active living. We should encourage staff to be knowledgeable about plant-based nutrition."
But are there exceptions? That is, are there cases when animal products are actually a medical necessity? Yes, though they are exceedingly rare. For instance, certain genetic defects can prevent the normal production of compounds usually supplied by one's own body. (Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome affects 1 in 20-60,000 births, and carnitine transporter deficiency affects 1 in 40,000 in Japan, 1 in 100,000 generally.) G6PD enzyme deficiency is a condition which, only in the most severe cases, might require one to exclude not just fava beans, but all legumes or risk hemolytic crisis—and without legumes as a lysine source, some animal sources of lysine might be needed in the diet. A combination of serious food allergies could present a similar situation.
More common, however, are individuals without a specific diagnosis but whose experience leads them to conclude that they need animal products. Personal experience is powerful, even if it does not meet the standards of the scientific method. For instance, we know of some authors and bloggers (here, here, and here) who quit eating animal products, experienced a decline in health, resumed eating them and started feeling better. These individuals concluded that animal products supply something not provided by a plant-sourced diet (without a determination of exactly what). The conclusions of one such author, however, have been directly challenged. Meanwhile, we know of others who quit eating animal products, failed to thrive, then diagnosed and resolved the issue while still following a plant-sourced diet. (See this interview with Jack Norris, RD, as well as this post.)
A reminder: just because food is plant-sourced doesn't make it good for your health. After all, OREO® cookies and Coke® are plant-sourced items, yet they are calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods.
*It is worth noting that no matter how optimal an individual's diet, healthy eating does not guarantee a disease-free life. None of us is invincible. Nevertheless, at the population level, positive dietary changes have the potential for tremendous impact.
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