British nutritionists have stated that the growing popularity of vegetarianism and veganism is threatening the intellectual abilities of the next generation. The study was published in the scientific journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.
The study authors stated that avoiding animal foods causes a lack of choline, a compound critical for brain development. This element is found in large quantities in meat, eggs, milk and other animal products. It is much lower in plant foods such as beans and nuts. According to scientists, choline is especially important for pregnant women, as its lack increases the risk of developing neural tube defects in the unborn child. In addition, it enters the body during feeding, as it ensures proper brain development. It is also argued that regular choline intake is necessary for greater effect. “Plant-based diets are great and benefit the environment. But few people think about the dangers of reducing choline intake for future children,”- said study author Emma Derbyshire in an interview with the Daily Mail. Choline is produced in the liver, but not enough for the human body, so it must be obtained from food, says the nutritionist.