Study: Vegetarians, vegans more likely to be depressed

A new study found that vegetarians are more likely to become depressed, and their diet lacking in vitamin B12 may have a lot to do with it.

More than half of vegans and 7 percent of vegetarians have a deficiency of vitamin B12, which is found in red meat, according to the new study. The researchers found that “committed vegetarians” had a higher average depression score compared to meat-eaters, CBS New York reported. “The Morning Blaze with Doc Thompson” crew had one big question on Friday’s episode: How can they leave this information where Kal Elsebai’s vegetarian wife can find it?

“They’re missing the meat,” Brad Staggs said.

“That’s the thing. When we keep bagging on the vegans and the vegetarians and we’re like, ‘You guys are crazy for not eating meat,’ no, you’re crazy because you’re not eating meat,” Doc explained the study’s key finding.

For the study, Bristol University researchers looked at the diets of around 10,000 people in southwestern England. They found that the longer people had been vegetarians, the higher their depression scores were likely to be.

Some possible factors influencing the participants’ depression are the link between lower intakes of seafood and a greater risk of being depressed as well as the link between the vegetarians’ higher intake of nuts rich in omega-6 and an increased risk of mental health issues.

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