Meat and mental health: Meat eaters suffer less depression, anxiety

Post by loceng » Fri, Oct 15, 2021, 1:38 AM UTC

dahfizz wrote: post #41

King-Aaron wrote: post #9

I'd say the first big thing to highlight is that correlation is not causation - you wouldn't want someone to take this study as proof that eating meat makes you less depressed. I would imagine that vegans (in particular vegans who chose their diet on ethical grounds) are overall more concerned about the state of the world around them - or are at least subjected to more of an echo-chamber effect from their peers - whi…

I would reverse the causation. People become vegans because they are highly empathetic and emotionally driven - this personality type also is more susceptible to anxiety and depression

Post by phnofive » Fri, Oct 15, 2021, 1:39 AM UTC

s1artibartfast wrote: post #15

johnNumen wrote: post #4

This is nothing but conjecture, but my suspicion is that neurotically conscientious people are more likely to become vegan, and also more likely to be depressed and anxious.

Interesting suspicion. What atypical mind states are associated with meat eating? It would have to be a very large effect given 95‰ of the US eats meat. I think the opposite is more likely. Atypical mind states are associated with veganism and the mood disorders.

Post by UnpossibleJim » Fri, Oct 15, 2021, 1:40 AM UTC

mmcgaha wrote: post #33

sundvor wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you're wrong. Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. If everyone had to meet the meat before their meals, we'd be able to bring consumption right down. (And by that I'd include the whole impact of cow breeding on the environment etc, right down to the execution.)

So you think hunters and people tend livestock eat less meat?

Post by chillingeffect » Fri, Oct 15, 2021, 1:41 AM UTC

jiggunjer wrote: post #44

mfer wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many (most?) meat eaters are deficient in nutrients their body needs. The USDA found that only about 3% of people get their daily recommended amount of fiber. Eating meat doesn’t mean you get what your body needs

what diseases are linked to lack of fiber? you have a generous definition of "need". edit: I'm not disputing the benefits of fiber for the average person, but the implied necessity of fiber is just false. Fact: A zero fiber diet is not guaranteed cause disease, whereas essential nutrient deficiencies will cause disease.

Post by TheDong » Fri, Oct 15, 2021, 1:42 AM UTC

zebraflask wrote: post #30

King-Aaron wrote: post #9

I'd say the first big thing to highlight is that correlation is not causation - you wouldn't want someone to take this study as proof that eating meat makes you less depressed. I would imagine that vegans (in particular vegans who chose their diet on ethical grounds) are overall more concerned about the state of the world around them - or are at least subjected to more of an echo-chamber effect from their peers - whi…

I wonder if more bioavailable B vitamins from a meat-heavy diet has anything to do with it. Vegetarian diets, as I understand the common saying, need to actively contain or be supplemented with B vitamin sources. If you're veg but live on nutrient-poor junk food, I could see nutritional deficiencies entering the mix. I think it's relatively uncontroversial that malnutrition has mental health side effects.