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Does vegan food have a lower nutritional density? In other words: Do vegans need to eat more to get adequate levels of nutrition than they would on an omnivorous diet?

Meat tends to sit in the intestines for a long time. Is this because meat has a higher nutritional density, and that is why it takes the body longer to digest it, or is it because meat-eaters consume less fiber? It seems plant-based foods digest quicker, but is this due to lower nutritional density or to higher levels of fiber intake in plant-based diets?

Geremia
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  • What do you mean by "nutritional density" in this context? Are you talking about calories or vitamins & minerals? – Nic Feb 07 '22 at 03:46
  • @Nic Any. Protein density, caloric density, vitamins/minerals density. – Geremia Feb 07 '22 at 03:53

1 Answers1

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On a weight basis, plant-based foods (especially whole foods) generally have:

  • ✅ more vitamins
  • ✅ more minerals
  • ✅ more dietary fibre
  • ✅ more water
  • less calories
  • less protein
  • less fat

Some people who adopt a plant-based diet find that they need to eat more food (more mass and more volume) in order to reach the same feeling of satiety (fullness) that they did on their earlier diet.

I'm not aware of any evidence that meat stays in the digestive system longer than other foods.

Nic
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  • "_I'm not aware of any evidence that meat stays in the digestive system longer than other foods._" I've seen it claimed that it's ∵ meat has more iron that it stays in the intestines longer, but it seems it's ∵ carnivores consume less fiber. – Geremia Feb 07 '22 at 04:16
  • Why would a plant-based diet possibly require more food to reach the same feeling of satiety? – RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket Feb 12 '22 at 00:01
  • Satiety tends to come from protein rich foods, if your diet contains less protein before that's probably the reason. – PontiusTheBarbarian Feb 20 '22 at 13:29