Results 1 to 45 of 45

Thread: What Do Vegans Die Of?

  1. #1
    ~%#$@!&*}~ tresu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    16

    Default What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Helloooooooo. I really hope this question doesn't offend or upset anyone, but I was just wondering... what do vegans die of? I know that there would be many things, and that vegans aren't completely immune to the diseases of omni's but considering all the health benefits of veganism you'd expect a lot of those aging illnesses to be avoided well into old age... But then what?

    I was just thinking about how I kind of consider omni-eating to be like smoking and heavy drinking... Bad for your health but everyone (a bit of a generalization there I know) still does them sometimes, but we know that cutting them out totally being ideal for health (according to the literature). If smokers have higher rates of lung cancer and other diseases than non-smokers, and if heavy drinkers have higher rates of liver damage and other diseases than non-drinkers, then it makes sense to say that if omnis have higher rates of certain diseases (cancers, heart disease, osteoperosis, general illnesses, ect.) than vegans, then a vegan diet should be considered to be ideal (like abstaining completely from smoking and heavy drinking). I'm sure non-smokers and non-drinkers expect not to die of lung cancer or liver disease, and vegans don't expect to die of omni-associated diseases caused by omni-eating (because they don't eat omni!)... So do vegans die of the same diseases as omni's, but not caused by an omni-diet?

    What a ramble... Sorry this might not be making a lot of sense!

    Also I just want to say I know a vegan diet isn't a cure for or way to avoid all disease

  2. #2
    missbettie's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Oak View, California, United S
    Posts
    1,650

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    well...vegans can die from the same diseases as omnis because diet is not a sole cause of most of those diseases. In many cases its less likely but it still will happen.
    i.e
    Many Vegans are overweight and there is a link btwn obesity and heart disease.

    but really most Vegans just die from eatting too much carrots....its a fact i swear!
    "i'm rejecting my reflection, cause i hate the way it judges me."

  3. #3
    Fuhzy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO, USA
    Posts
    183

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    I would say many vegans probably end up dying in some way or another from nutrient deficiencies, since many vegans don't watch their nutrient intakes all that closely...

  4. #4
    sugarmouse
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    ill probably die of cider poisoning

  5. #5
    treehugga's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    930

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Extremely old age

  6. #6
    Pilaf
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Sexual frustration :P

  7. #7
    erfoud's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    San Sebastián (Spain)
    Posts
    61

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Do we die, really? I went vegan to be immortal! WHat a letdown!

  8. #8
    Pilaf
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    It's actually a goal of mine to live to be 150. Wish me luck.

  9. #9
    [LMNOP] ellaminnowpea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Northeast, U.S.
    Posts
    1,306

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Hmmmm, interesting, I don't think theres been a full generation of vegans in the industrialized countries. I've only ever heard of one completely vegan culture in Asia, which is not industrialized and has not been studied very much. I would have to guess (in no particular order):

    1) cancer, I really dont think it's preventable
    2) environmental toxins and exposure to pollution
    3) weakened heart, which eventually stops. It is a muscle and deteriorates over time.
    4) alzheimers or other brain deterioration
    5) blood clots, heart disease, strokes, etc
    6) travel-related illnesses such as tropical disease
    7) mental disorders
    8) acute illnesses like respiratory illness or digestive problems
    7) same things as omnis, in a lesser degree

    I got really into that... can you tell I'd love to work in preventative medicine?

  10. #10
    baffled harpy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    6,655

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    tresu, have you looked at this page, which mentions a couple of scientific studies:

    http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/veganhealth

    The most common cause of death among vegans seems to be "other causes" which presumably includes cider poisoning and sexual frustration

  11. #11
    Karma Junkie vava's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    South Yorkshire, England, UK.
    Posts
    876

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    heh!
    even perfect isn't perfect - Rubyduby 4th July 08

  12. #12
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    1,212

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Well, I think a vegan who eats whole unprocessed foods and has an active lifestyle will die of very different things then one that eats a lot of vegan junk food and sits on the couch all day. I don't think that the second one would die of different reasons then an omni. You can even have an omni that follows a pretty healthy lifestyle (as healthy as can be still eating meat and dairy) that is more healthy then a vegan that eats a lot of junk. I think on the most part vegan are more healthy of course but you can people on opposite extremes.

    I'd either want to do before of an accident doing something crazy, like rock climbing or jumping out of a plane (at an old age though, not now!) or just because I'm like 120 years old, healthy as hell, but am just too old to be alive anymore.
    "To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

  13. #13
    sugarmouse
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Theres three causes of death, Trauma, aging and disease..and vegans dont escape any of them by default, it depends on lifestyle,fate and the grim reaper

  14. #14
    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    The Emerald Isle
    Posts
    2,506

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote Fuhzy View Post
    I would say many vegans probably end up dying in some way or another from nutrient deficiencies, since many vegans don't watch their nutrient intakes all that closely...
    This applies to most omnivores too though!
    I like Sandra, she keeps making me giggle. Daft little lady - Frosty

  15. #15
    rantipole's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    asbury park nj
    Posts
    449

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    If nothing else gets you, your kidneys will fail eventually. They take the brunt of all the toxins produced as natural byproducts of our metabolism. They also don't regenerate as well as the liver does. So, that will get you in the end.

    Also, although it is healthiest to be a vegan, even healthy plant foods produce damaging chemcials during metabolism--free radicals, peroxides, carcinogens, etc. These will catch up with you in time.

    The process of cell division allows random mutations to crop up in DNA. Over time, this leads to cellular death, cell dysfunction, cancer, and other problems.

    Truly, from the second you are conceived, you are starting to die. Morbid, but true.

    So, vegans die of all of these things, assuming no accidents, violence, or other factors.

    Cheers,
    rant
    "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." --Yoda

  16. #16
    I eve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Queensland, Australia
    Posts
    2,210

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    I agree with sugarmouse that there are three causes of death, trauma, ageing, and disease, but don't forget inheritance - there are many tendencies to poor health conditions that we can inherit. Vegans can't escape them by default, but our lifestyle can make a heap of difference. I don't believe in fate though, and the grim reaper will come just when we don't expect a visit!
    Eve

  17. #17
    Metal Head emzy1985's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Luton, UK
    Posts
    2,149

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    I wonder what the difference in life expectancy between a healthy vegan and a raw vegan is? Ofcourse we will just have to wait and see.

    There is that vegan community in Japan that is vegan. (Ottawanian?) All the elders are 100+ and look like they are 50. They have never been exposed to processed foods, only tofu and vegetables!
    The taste of anything in my mouth for 5 seconds does not equate to the beauty and complexity of life.

  18. #18
    baffled harpy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    6,655

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    If you mean Okinawans, emzy, unfortunately they seem to be the kind of "vegans" who eat fish!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_diet

    ETA there could of course be somewhere else in Japan where they don't eat fish, which would be interesting to know about.

  19. #19
    Pilaf
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    I don't recall ever hearing the Okinawans were vegan anyway.

    They certainly have a VERY healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle but it's not vegan. They do consume some animal products but mostly seafood.

  20. #20
    IRBFUIPTHITCS Fungus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Edinburgh, Scotland
    Posts
    161

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    From wikipedia ..


    A 1999 metastudy[6] compared six major studies from western countries. The study found that the mortality ratio was the lowest in fish eaters (0.82) followed by vegetarians (0.84) and occasional meat eaters (0.84), and was then followed by regular meat eaters (1.0) and vegan (1.0)[68] . When the study made its best estimate of mortality ratio with confounding factors considered, the mortality ratio for vegetarians was found to be (0.94)[69].
    Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe-Albert Einstein

  21. #21
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    1,212

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote Fungus View Post
    From wikipedia ..


    A 1999 metastudy[6] compared six major studies from western countries. The study found that the mortality ratio was the lowest in fish eaters (0.82) followed by vegetarians (0.84) and occasional meat eaters (0.84), and was then followed by regular meat eaters (1.0) and vegan (1.0)[68] . When the study made its best estimate of mortality ratio with confounding factors considered, the mortality ratio for vegetarians was found to be (0.94)[69].
    Woah! How can that be!! Am I reading that wrong?
    "To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

  22. #22
    Pilaf
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote DiaShel View Post
    Woah! How can that be!! Am I reading that wrong?
    It's probably all the extra omega 3. Theorteically their diets should be mich richer in it than the average vegan diet, although we can get it from other sources. It's one nutrient I admit I should probably eat more myself. I need more flax.

    edit: I just noticed we scored as bad as meat eaters..haha wow. Okay so maybe we should be more conscious about a wider variety of vitamins and minerals! I personally suspect I don't get enough iron for one.

  23. #23
    Metal Head emzy1985's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Luton, UK
    Posts
    2,149

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Damn! I thought they were vegan.

    Nevermind...looks like we all need to be taking more care of ourselves!
    The taste of anything in my mouth for 5 seconds does not equate to the beauty and complexity of life.

  24. #24
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Sussex, UK
    Posts
    3,925

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    don't forget the great Donald Watson, founder of the Vegan Society, who died aged 95 - pretty much from old age i believe, and was fit and healthy right up until his death.
    'The word gorilla was derived from the Greek word Gorillai (a "tribe of hairy women")'

  25. #25
    Ex-admin Korn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    4,830

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote Fuhzy View Post
    I would say many vegans probably end up dying in some way or another from nutrient deficiencies, since many vegans don't watch their nutrient intakes all that closely...
    I don't think there's any evidence that vegans lack more nutrients than non-vegans. Nutrient deficiencies among meat eaters are well documented.

    OTOH, too much of anything isn't good either, and while we have no reason to assume that too high B12 levels are desirable, too low B12 levels aren't good either. One theory suggests that the higher the higher life expectancy values for lacto-vegetarians is that they have higher B12 levels, and that vegans would live circa 4 years longer than non-veggies if they would combine all the health benefits of a plant based diets with making sure their B12 levels were good enough.

    There are so many myths about B12, one of them being that we never need supplements if we eat 'natural' food (which isn't correct in our 'un-natural' times).

    On another note, many people eat vegan for ethical reasons, and may not pay much attention to the nutritional aspect of changing one's dietary habits. Peta, for instance, which claim to have between 1.5 and 2 million members don't focus much on health and nutrition at all. Historically, I guess more people have turned lacto-vegetarian than vegan for health reasons, but we may live in a period where this is about to change.

    Some people assume that one can compensate for a poor diet or lack of focus on nutrition by eating multivitamins, which means that there may be lots of 'pasta-vegans' out there who are involved in AR activism while eating junk foods plus vitmain pills. That's just not good enough. We need to rely on actual food for our nutrients, and compensate or lacking nutrients when necessary - not the other way round.

    Another fact that may influence these numbers is that many people go vegan or vegetarian when they have serious health issues like cancer, heart problems or extreme obesity, and even if they may have been eating meat for 60 years, and die at 65, they are part of the veg*n life expectancy statistics.

  26. #26
    [LMNOP] ellaminnowpea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Northeast, U.S.
    Posts
    1,306

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Isnt the mortality ratio based on the expected number of deaths in each group? So comparing the actual deaths to expected could be skewing it. (?)

    ...idk, I'm done with my statistics studies and terminology for life!.

  27. #27
    pathologist
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Lancashire
    Posts
    115

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Well of course its sad but true that social class really does come into mortality rates at all ages - possible because - in part - of all the other factors such as smoking, drinking, diet. I think maybe most vegans (and vegetarians) are amongst the more educated classes in society.

  28. #28
    Metal Head emzy1985's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Luton, UK
    Posts
    2,149

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Just cuz we is vegans - don't mean we is clever!
    The taste of anything in my mouth for 5 seconds does not equate to the beauty and complexity of life.

  29. #29
    hm umbilical's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    germany
    Posts
    202

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote emzy1985 View Post
    Just cuz we is vegans - don't mean we is clever!
    that's true

    i didn't even finish secondary school ..because i was endlessly depressed during all my teenage

  30. #30
    pathologist
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Lancashire
    Posts
    115

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Well - I think that to some extent being vegan or vegetarian does show some thought about nutition to some extent and I think that this means that with or without formal education vegans tend to know more about nutritian and health and will be more educated in this aspect of life.

  31. #31
    RubyDuby
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,294

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    i'm not so sure about that.
    Each snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty.

  32. #32
    hm umbilical's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    germany
    Posts
    202

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    i don't think one has to be educated to live a meaningful life.
    knowledge without wisdom usually causes harm anyway.


    [youtube]N6voHeEa3ig[/youtube]

  33. #33

    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    indonesia
    Posts
    9

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    i think the bad things a vegan could eat too much of could be: sugar, even white bread, pasta, processed food, canned food, crisps, stored food (= dead food, that is, food that the "civilized" person eats too much of), with a lack of vitamin A, D, K2, B12 ... it could be really easy to become unhealthy. I personnally heard a vegan telling he could eat enormous amounts of tofu icecream. I am quite sure that is not that good for you.

  34. #34
    Pilaf
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote leafy View Post
    i think the bad things a vegan could eat too much of could be: sugar, even white bread, pasta, processed food, canned food, crisps, stored food (= dead food, that is, food that the "civilized" person eats too much of), with a lack of vitamin A, D, K2, B12 ... it could be really easy to become unhealthy. I personnally heard a vegan telling he could eat enormous amounts of tofu icecream. I am quite sure that is not that good for you.
    It's not good for him but at least it's cruelty free. Remember that most of us who remain vegan for a long period of time do it all for the animals.

    But he should consider eating more fresh produce for only his own sake, and to be a healthier person and a more energetic spokesperson for a cruelty free lifestyle.

  35. #35
    whalespace's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    bodicitta
    Posts
    456

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    So far, I reckon most vegans have died at tooth, claw, and beak of predator [lately knife and fork].
    Possible increased risk of drowning, and famine...sorry.
    Problematic is waking someone whom pretends to sleep.

  36. #36
    Buddha Belly
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    It's probably going to be a boredom related disese from having to read so many labels every time we go shopping

  37. #37
    Hemlock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    South Downs UK
    Posts
    1,312

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    I'll probably die in a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland when it all gets too much
    Silent but deadly :p

  38. #38

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Cornwall
    Posts
    93

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Are Jains vegan? I know that they take enormous care to avoid eating small creatures, and have seen some Jain writings in the Vegan Soc magazine, so I had presumed they are, but I don't know if they use milk and eggs. Does any one know? Because if they are vegan, then they are a society that goes back hundreds, and quite possibly thousands of years.
    And for a less long-standing, more western approach to veganism, there are 7th day adventists, who I believe are always vegetarian and often vegan. I think there have been quite a few studies on them. I believe they show that they live long and prosper provided they take B12.
    Must go and look at my books again, this is all shrouded in my mind, having been hidden by accumulated layers of rubbish

  39. #39
    baffled harpy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    6,655

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Jains do use dairy products traditionally, but I was reading that these days an increasing number are avoiding it because of the way milk is produced now. I don't think they ever used eggs.

  40. #40
    Fuhzy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO, USA
    Posts
    183

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote Pilaf View Post
    Sexual frustration :P
    I'm changing my answer to this.

  41. #41

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    A lack of life.
    Any other attempt at generalising is spurious in the extreme.
    ..but what would they do with all the cows?..

  42. #42
    cobweb
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote Pilaf View Post
    Sexual frustration :P
    tell me about it

  43. #43
    cobweb
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote horselesspaul View Post
    A lack of life.
    Any other attempt at generalising is spurious in the extreme.

    i agree.

    i keep getting ill at the moment and i am overweight - i'm getting a bit fed up with people mentioning my veganism in connection with these things .

    i must look after myself better.

  44. #44

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote cobweb View Post
    i agree.

    i keep getting ill at the moment and i am overweight - i'm getting a bit fed up with people mentioning my veganism in connection with these things .

    i must look after myself better.
    You go girl! Be kind to yourself. I hope you become less ill and overweight (if indeed you are) as a matter of course. I am aiming for the latter myself.
    x
    ..but what would they do with all the cows?..

  45. #45
    cobweb
    Guest

    Default Re: What Do Vegans Die Of?

    Quote horselesspaul View Post
    You go girl! Be kind to yourself. I hope you become less ill and overweight (if indeed you are) as a matter of course. I am aiming for the latter myself.
    x

    thanks sweetie
    for a man you are so lovely (said very tongue in cheek as i prefer men most of the time )
    trouble is, i think i'm being 'kind' to myself by having 'treats' but really it'd be a lot kinder to eat well all the time
    good luck to us both

Similar Threads

  1. Single profiles: Single vegans looking for other vegans
    By mango in forum VEGANISM - THE MAIN TOPICS
    Replies: 723
    Last Post: Jun 17th, 2011, 09:09 PM
  2. Hostility towards vegans/non-vegans
    By Nothsa in forum VEGANISM - THE MAIN TOPICS
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: Dec 24th, 2010, 03:07 PM
  3. Replies: 36
    Last Post: Oct 5th, 2009, 10:37 AM
  4. Spanish Vegans (or vegans living in Spain)
    By Manzana in forum Europe (other)
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: Jun 21st, 2008, 07:48 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •