In recent months, I have repeatedly encountered some uncritical supporters of vegan ideology repeatedly referring to animal diets in general as unhealthy and plant-based diets as automatically healthy. But such a claim and comparison is utterly absurd, because there is no one "animal diet" just as there is no one "plant diet".
If the animal diet is represented by high daily consumption of sausages, overcooked hamburgers from fast food chains and other ultra-processed industrial foods of animal origin, then such a diet can be very unhealthy beyond any doubt. But equally, an animal-based diet represented by the consumption of fish, lean meats, quality dairy products (cheese, yoghurt, skyr, etc.), eggs and other minimally industrially processed foods of animal origin can be healthy.
So, when it comes to the impact of an animal diet on human health, you really can't compare eating sausages and fish. It is just as absurd as if we were to say of a plant-based diet that the typical representative of a vegan diet is fried chips. If a plant-based diet were represented by the daily consumption of chips, high doses of sugar, sunflower oil and other ultra-processed industrial plant-based foods, such a diet would certainly be very unhealthy. But equally, a plant-based diet represented by the consumption of a variety of vegetables, fruits, quality baked goods, etc., can be healthy.
If you are assessing the impact of an animal diet on human health, please do not lump together sausages and fish as representatives of an animal diet. It is as absurd as 'lumping' chips and broccoli together as representatives of a plant-based diet. Their effect on human health will, of course, be different in the two groups.
Finally, the whole comparison between animal and plant-based diets is somewhat unfortunate. A diet suitable for the vast majority of us can of course contain a predominance of plant foods (fruit, vegetables, cereals, etc.) and be supplemented with good quality animal foods in appropriate quantities (fish, meat, eggs, dairy products, etc.). A plant-based diet is a good source of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and phytonutrients. Animal diets are also a good source of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It is important that the diet is varied, personalised, based on the consumption of minimally processed foods and covers everyone's individual nutritional requirements. But whether a diet is 'plant-based' or 'animal-based' does not automatically say anything about whether it is healthy.
Disclaimer
This article is in no way directed against vegan supporters, who are critically aware of all the risks and benefits of a vegan diet and have a polite discussion with us.
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