Quote:
Originally Posted by Athena  How is veganism ideal if it doesn't naturally provide an essential nutrient? |
Possibly it was
previously an ideal diet, back before we went all racoon on our food and started washing it. B12 used to be found in top soil, so: Eat dirt = get your b12.
But I think you're getting into an arguement of semantics: what is "ideal"?
Do you mean "natural" or "naturally-evolved" or "existing by virture of Darwinian evolution"?
Or do you mean "ideal" as in "the best for a human"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Athena Same with iron-- isn't the iron from animal sources superior to that from plant sources? |
Animal-sourced iron is partly heme iron, which is easier to absorb. Plant-sourced iron has no heme iron (all non-heme iron). However, plant-based diets are higher in vit. C, which increases absorption of non-heme iron.
It's comparable to meat-sourced iron in a well-balanced veggie/vegan diet.
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NOTE: I'm not advocating "ideal" anything here; I'm just positing some logical conjecture for stewing. Flame on.