When did Michael Porter Jr. become a vegan?
I have heard some say that injury is due to his rapid growth spurt...but the guy has been 6'9" since his Sophomore year at Tolton and has not had a history of injury problems during his three years of HS that I recall.
IS IT POSSIBLE...that his vegan diet is somehow responsible due to certain common dietary deficiancies associated with that type of diet?
Quick google search revealed some potential deficinecy problems below.
Could he simply be lacking in some simple nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamin D abd B12, that are causing problems with his bones, joints, and connective tissues?
Potential Health Problems of a Vegan Diet
Overall, eating a vegan diet is a pretty healthy way to go. But with such a restricted diet, it's very easy to develop deficiencies in many essential nutrients. Here are some of the vitamins that vegans typically lack:
I have heard some say that injury is due to his rapid growth spurt...but the guy has been 6'9" since his Sophomore year at Tolton and has not had a history of injury problems during his three years of HS that I recall.
IS IT POSSIBLE...that his vegan diet is somehow responsible due to certain common dietary deficiancies associated with that type of diet?
Quick google search revealed some potential deficinecy problems below.
Could he simply be lacking in some simple nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamin D abd B12, that are causing problems with his bones, joints, and connective tissues?
Potential Health Problems of a Vegan Diet
Overall, eating a vegan diet is a pretty healthy way to go. But with such a restricted diet, it's very easy to develop deficiencies in many essential nutrients. Here are some of the vitamins that vegans typically lack:
- Vitamin B12: This is the most common vitamin that vegans are deficient in. Vegans are highly encouraged to take a vitamin B12 supplement as it is an important protector of the nervous system. Without it, dementia, blindness and deafness can occur and a lack of B12 can also cause anemia to develop. B12 also regulates the level of homocysteine in the body. Higher levels of this amino acid are typically found in vegans and increase the risk for heart disease and strokes.
- Vitamin D and calcium: Because vegans don't consume fish or dairy, their intake of Vitamin D and calcium can be low. Low amounts of calcium can cause the body to release more of the parathyroid hormone, or PTH. High levels of PTH are what cause osteoporosis to develop. PTH also regulates the conversion of vitamin D into Calcitriol, which helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorous.
- Protein and iron: Because vegans eat a plant-based diet, they usually don't consume enough protein or iron, which means they could be missing out on some the essential amino acids that are found in animal-based foods.
- Omega-3: These fatty acids are good for the heart and some studies show that they can keep depression at bay. However, omega-3 is typically found in cold-water fish, like salmon ormackerel, which are not part of the vegan diet.
- Vitamin A: Since this vitamin is only found in animal-based foods, vegans tend to be lacking it. This vitamin is essential for sight, particularly night vision, as well as bone growth and immune system response.
