There are lots of common vegan myths and preconceptions. Many of these can be unhelpful or assumptive. Some may come from a place of concern, which is fine and understandable. Some come from the meat and dairy industry, worried about a dent in their trade. But some of the most prevalent vegan myths are just downright absurd.
Here is a rundown of the most commonly found vegan myths, and why they are wrong!
Table of Contents
1. Vegans Are Preachy
There is often a backlash about vegans because of how preachy they apparently all are. While many are vocal about animal rights issues and their environmental concerns, on the whole, most people are less vocal and will only offer up their opinions when asked about it.
2. Vegans Talk About Being Vegan. A lot!
One criticism leveled at the plant-based diet-eating folk is that they talk about veganism a lot. And, although this is one of the only common vegan myths that may be partially true, there are some things to consider.
Firstly, making the change to veganism is a huge step in anyone’s life. It would be weird if people didn’t talk about it to those around them.
Secondly, eating is something that we all do every day. Most people talk about food that they enjoy to some extent, and that’s all vegans are doing.
Thirdly, veganism is not the status quo. While restaurants and supermarkets have recently started getting on board, we live in the wold of the omnivore. Finding good vegan food out in the world is exciting, and is going to be something that vegans are going to want to talk about.
3. Vegan Cheese Is Gross
It’s not!
While some of the earlier commercially available dairy-free cheeses were not fantastic, however, this is rapidly changing. With some tasty cheeses out there such as this tasty vegan applewood, or Daiya, cheese is something that vegans can enjoy once more.
And, with cheese being one of the major things that prevent vegetarians from making the leap to veganism, having exciting options is a major help.
4. Vegans Don’t Get Enough Protein
This crazy notion seems to be one that confuses many people. There are plenty of vegetables that are high in protein. Check out nuts, beans, and lentils, as well as green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli.
The great thing about vegetables as a source of protein is that they’re really good for you, so you can eat as much as you like.
5. Being Vegan Is Expensive
If you want to eat pre-made meals, or are getting lots of niche independent branded foods, then granted, it can get pricey. But just like any diet, if you cook your meals from scratch, plan ahead, and shop wisely, then it can be very cheap.
6. Vegans All Have B12 Deficiencies
B12 is a vitamin that is found in lots of animal products, so it is something that vegans do struggle to get in their diets. However, nutritional yeast is great sprinkled or mixed into many meals, and if you love marmite, then getting plenty of this in your diet will help you get the B12 you need.
Of course, if neither of those options suits your taste, then you can always take a supplement or any number of different B12 sprays and products out there.
7. Vegans Get Overloaded From Estrogen From Consuming Too Much Soy
Possibly the craziest idea out there is the one that claims that eating too much soy overloads you with estrogen. The implication is that it makes vegan men grow breasts. The term ‘soy boy’ is one that gets bandied around in certain quarters of the alt-right, potentially because of insecurities about their own masculinity, who knows? (This is pure speculation – before any alt-right boys come knocking on my door to assert their right as an alpha male)
The bottom line is that this is not true. Soy does contain plant hormones, or phytoestrogens, which do not have the effect on humans that they would on plants. What is true though is that milk from cows actually contains mammalian estrogen.
8. Vegan Food Is Bad For The Environment
In recent years, there has been a shift in the motivating factors for becoming vegan. Where traditionally animal welfare has been the predominant driver, more and more it is environmental concerns that are the reason behind the change.
The fundamental environmental reason that many people switch to a plant-based diet is that modern industrial farming requires more land to be given over to farming animals and the production of animal feed. This means deforestation, which in turn affects the planet’s ability to process carbon emissions on the scale that we’re throwing it out there.
In addition to that, the levels of methane produced in animal agriculture are greater than the levels of carbon pollution from all modes of transport combined. This fact has led the United Nations to state that moving away from animal-based diets is essential in reducing global warming.
But then every other day, a story will come out about how vegans are living off imported avocados, chickpeas, and soya produce. That all of these things are being over-farmed and shipped in a way that is detrimental to the environment. Unfortunately, many of these common vegan myths are finding their way into the public eye through the meat and dairy industries which are naturally worried about the potential drop in consumption of the produce.
Of course, no system is perfect. All of the world’s problems are not going to be solved by stopping eating meat, eggs, and dairy. The nature of our global food chain is complex, and this is something that pretty much any vegan will know and be concerned about. Sure, vegans may eat things like avocados, soya, and chickpeas. They may drink almond milk which may not be the best for the environment. But, they still don’t account for the largest use of these products. And many will limit their consumption and look at where things were produced.
When so much imported South American soya goes into feeding the one billion chickens that are slaughtered in the UK each year, ask yourself if the small population of vegans is really damaging the environment.
Common Vegan Myths – Debunked!
I hope I didn’t come across as too preachy in all of that!
What do you think? Are you a vegan? What are the common vegan myths you encounter? Or, have you thought about going vegan, but did something put you off? Let me know in the comments below.
One noticeable thing about Vegans that wasn’t listed in this post, and surely can’t be a myth, is their belief that by “avoiding meats”, one reduces the risk of contradicting a disease.
That is not how the immune system functions.
The immune system works by “practicing” on germs, so therefore, by exposing yourself to them by eating meat, you are strengthening your immune system. More exposure, means a greater resistance to disease.
I’ve not come across that one myself. As a vegan, I tend to get a lot of these myths thrown back at me. I personally don’t feel that I am immune to anything because I avoid meat though and never have done, and so far am yet to have anyone tell me that they believe they are., or read it as a solid claim to becoming vegan.
One of the questions I get quite regularly is why would I want to eat a ‘FAKE’ sausage / burger / sausage roll / fillet / nugget / wing /sandwich slice / pasty / mince
etc etc.
When I reply that these are simply food ‘shapes’ and do not have to be made of ‘meat’, folk just cannot comprehend it.
Let alone the fact as a lifelong vegetarian, when I use these terms I am not referring to animal products in any way – their minds are blown… 😕🖤
I hear that one a lot too. For me, meat was once a major part of my diet. I quite liked it. So when I gave up meat there was a meat shaped hole in my diet. I probably eat meat substitutes far less now though. I think fake meats help people who have moved off meat to adjust.
I love reading how angry people get on social media whenever a company brings out a new vegan sausage of burger. They burst blood vessels over it, but really, what does it matter to them anyway?
Exactly! Madness! 😒🖤
Back to your comment about vegans/vegetarians not getting enough protein/other nutrients, just get a wee bit fed up of meat eaters making out that meat is a health food/the healthier alternative.
My wife and I are near-pescaterian, as for meat we essentially eat chicken, salmon, shrimp and beans, although I also love smoked tofu and seitan as well.
You’re quite close to the dark side if you already enjoy seitan 😉
Thank you yes your story is correct thank you 🙇 Kindness 🕯️🕯️🕯️
I’ve definitely met some preachy vegans lol but I’ve also met preachy gluten-free people, vegetarians, dieters, etc. People just like to target vegans for some reason!
You do obviously get some outspoken vegans. Quite a few people want to convert others to veganism – but you are right that vegans get targeted in a way that other ‘preachy people’ don’t. I think the reason that vegans tend to get targeted in that way is that fundamentally, most people probably agree with them about animal cruelty and environmental issues and some people possibly feel somewhat subconsciously guilty about their lifestyle choices (whether they acknowledge or realise that guilt in themselves). It’s like hearing someone saying something that is right but not wanting confront it…maybe?!
This is a really good post – been reseraching the environmental impact of various beans, non-dairy milks etc. Your point about soy is a good one!
In terms of non-dairy milks, oat is often regarded as one of the better options. I don’t take milk in my coffee, but my wife swears by oat in hot drinks- oatly is a pretty good dairly alternative. On balance, it is probably the best milk for environmental impact. Almond is the best in terms of carbon emissions but it takes more water, and US almond mild in particular has a big problem in almond pollination where bees are dying on a vast scale. I’m not sure how much of their almond milk finds its way into the UK food chain though.
I eat plant-based alkaline foods therefore, fake cheeses and fake meats don’t work for me. My choice is all about eating foods that promote optimum health and overall wellness. For me, food is medicine and my kitchen is my pharmacy. If it’s loaded with preservatives, chemicals and processed, I don’t eat it. With that said, if I want a bag of chips or a cookie, I’m going to eat it. If I want a piece of fresh wild-caught salmon, I’m going to eat it and enjoy it.