Worried for friend that has gone raw vegan and just sat there during a lunch out

[Worflyied]

I've got a friend who has been doing this raw vegan diet for almost 10 months. She sticks to it religiously. She is looking good and is not underweight. But she has cut out virtually every food group apart from nuts, fruit and veg. Long term this doesn't seem like a good idea.

We went out yesterday to an nt place, and for lunch she just had a peppermint tea and ate nothing, then after lunch nibbled on some seeds as we were walking around. Doesn't sound healthy right?

My yoga studio runs a raw vegan cafe. there's all sorts of weird fake cake things, but I suspect that normally most raw vegans eat veg. Is there really no salad available at NT cafes? I'd have hoped to find a salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber etc.

Do you have actual evidence to show that the low life expectancy is directly linked to B12 deficiency, by any chance?

Sheesh is the friend not an adult? Can friend not choose a restaurant that has food friend likes? Why is it OP's responsibility to choose venue that suits friend's unusual preferences.

Hmm. You wouldn't be using Mumsnet to some research for an article would you?

I bet her poos smell OK, you know how like horse poos are OK smelling? they must be so pure!

anyway, I don't have a shit fetish I assure you

TBH I do not eat breakfast
I have a friend who does not eat lunch
and if she's vegan (cooked or otherwise)
then National Trust properties (other than the wonderful cafe at Avebury) can be a PITA

nice of her to let you eat IMHO

Sanjay Chugh, a psychiatrist who practises in New Delhi, says: “Vitamin B12 deficiency is rampant in India (among men and women). from

www.livemint.com/Leisure/15Otix14d5vjQHcTtNM94O/Why-vegetarians-should-worry-about-vitamin-B12-intake.html

At national trust cafes it is probably right just about al;l the food is sugar and carbs, basically junk utterly yuck, even for me and I'm not a raw food vegan. It is hard to get normal good food these days in many places.

No cote she didn't peck at her seeds, she ate her seeds as everyone else ate their food too.... Or would you say they gorged on cake?

yougotthelove
www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-health/vitamins-minerals-and-nutrients/vitamin-b12-your-key-facts/what-every-vegan-should-know-about-vitamin-b12

TBH malnutrition is rampant in India, as is disease from shitting in their fields rather than using toilets.

Millions of Indians are vegetarian, not vegan.
AFAIK only one tiny tribe buried away somewhere in the world has been found to have a 100% vegan culture, i.e. without a little ghee, yoghurt, cheese etc creeping in somewhere.

She's an adult though, her choice.
No need for you to worry.
You might prefer to have lunch or supper with her in future, so she can have a raw salad, say with oil & lemon dressing and hummus. Fruit salad for pud.
That would be a decent healthy meal, if allowed.

Life expectancy in India is 66 years

India has very high infant mortality - this skews life expectancy statistics.

And they are NOT vegan, anyway.

There are loads of people out there for whom food can bring no pleasure. Breatharianism tends to kill its followers. There is also calorie restriction, or eating only protein. The trouble is is that you will only know in the end. If you live to 150 but only eat nuts, you are missing out so much. It takes all sorts. It is also worth bearing in mind that some people with end stage cancer can look remarkably healthy. Appearances can be very deceptive.

To be honest, if you're on a strict diet of any kind, there's usually going to be nothing to eat at one of these places (or Starbucks, Costa etc) because it's always carby or fatty or too calorific (pick your diet!).

So the fact that she didn't eat is neither her nor there - it's often the case that I can't eat at any of those places - but I know that's going to be so, so I'll have eaten before, or I'll have a suitable snack to eat later.

Just like your friend.

Why would a "raw vegan" drink dried boiled stuff? I mean, that's not raw, is it?!!

It's not really cooked either. And I think some raw fooders aim to make a high percentage of their diet raw, rather than making it exclusively raw.

LaContessa - re "Do you have actual evidence to show that the low life expectancy is directly linked to B12 deficiency, by any chance?"

I had not meant to say that the shockingly low life expectancy in India is entirely due to endemic B12 deficiency with that post - just was quickly posting on the phone.

But now that you asked so nicely , actually yes, there is ample evidence that B12 deficiency reduces life expectancy. This is not surprising since the body cannot make new (and functional) blood cells without sufficient B12, and DNA damage from its deficiency resembles the effects of radiation.

I'm not disputing that a B12 deficiency can lead to death. However, there are so many ways to die in India (sadly) that I don't think you can point at any one nutritional factor and imply that it's the main cause.

Is there B12 in dairy/eggs? I'm curious now.

Yes B12 is in virtually all animal products. not just meat. That's why vegetarians don't usually need to supplement.

"there are so many ways to die in India (sadly) that I don't think you can point at any one nutritional factor and imply that it's the main cause."

I didn't imply that, as I said in the previous post.

"Is there B12 in dairy/eggs?"

Yes, lots of.

The bottom line is most people in the Uk have enormous bottoms and over half are fat beause they gorge themselves on disgusting national trust teas and eat sugar day after day after day.

They are the ones we should be worried about as they are costing us a fortune in treatment for diabetes and all the rest.

I will often just eat raw food although I do eat meat, fish, eggs. All those foods make me feel good not bad. NT teas make me feel disgusting.

Stores of vitamin B12 in the body can last around two to four years without being replenished, so it can take a long time for any problems to develop after a dietary change

Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in foods from animal sources. Sources for vegans are therefore limited and a vitamin B12 supplement may be needed.
It can be found in:

breakfast cereals fortified with B12
soya drinks fortified with vitamin B12
yeast extract such as Marmite

CoteDAzur, see, you quoted me, then totally ignored the key word in my post.

Statistically - two thirds of women are overweight. This vegan friend is not overweight. Being overweight is unhealthy. Therefore she is likely to be more healthy than most people on here.

Which is why I said "statistically" and not "I have met everyone one this thread and assessed their health".

HTH.