Can a Vegan Diet Cause Snoring?

cancer cardiovascular health diabetes endocrine disruptors estrogen fermented soy foods isoflavones nutrient deficiency phytoestrogens plant-based foods second-generation soy foods snoring soy soy ingredients soy-free diet soybeans traditional soy foods vegan diet veganism Jun 24, 2023

A variety of healthy foods, including vegetables, pasta, nuts, and grains

Veganism is the practice of eating only foods produced from plants. A vegan diet differs from a vegetarian one, which allows consuming eggs and dairy products in addition to plant-based foods. In the past decade, vegan diets have become more popular for several reasons. First, a vegan diet is thought to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable than diets that include animal-based foods. Second, it is hoped that the production of food from plants will reduce animal suffering. Third, veganism is associated with certain religious and cultural beliefs. Last but not least, many people follow a vegan diet for its perceived health benefits.^1,2 Veganism, however, has its drawbacks too. Let's explore the effects of this lifestyle on human health through the topics below:

Typical Components of a Vegan Diet
Disadvantages of a Vegan Diet
Veganism and Snoring

Make sure you read till the end to find out whether a vegan diet can lead to snoring.

Typical Components of a Vegan Diet

In general, a vegan diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains. It also typically includes legumes, nuts, and seeds as protein sources. These foods make a vegan diet high in dietary fiber and low in saturated fat. Diets with these features are thought to be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, and type-2 diabetes. Aside from fiber, a lot of polyphenols and phytochemicals can be found in plant-based foods. These substances promote gut health by increasing helpful bacteria and fighting inflammation and oxidation.^3,4

A vegan diet often features soy-based foods. This is because soy has a relatively high protein content. Plus, it has versatile properties that make it suitable for producing meat and dairy substitutes.⁵ What's more, the soy industry is subsidized by the U.S. government, which makes soy a cheap ingredient.⁶ Soy-based foods, all of which come from soybeans, fall under three groups. The first group is made up of traditional soy foods including soy milk and tofu. Fermented forms like miso, natto, tempeh, and soy sauce are part of this group too. On the other hand, soy meat and soy cheese are examples of highly processed second-generation soy foods. Finally, soy ingredients are used as replacements for more traditional ingredients. They include soybean oil, soy flour, and vegetable protein.⁷

Disadvantages of a Vegan Diet

Despite its supposed benefits, veganism is a highly restrictive lifestyle. The total abstinence from animal products makes it nutritionally inferior in some ways. Specifically, vegan diets are lower in protein intake and quality compared to all other diet types.³ Being vegan can also lead to a lack of Vitamin B12, which is not found in plants. Lower levels of Vitamins D, B2, and B3 are linked to vegan diets as well. As for minerals, plant-based foods tend to be low in calcium, iron, iodine, and zinc. Such deficiencies can cause multiple health concerns because these nutrients perform vital body functions.^1,3,4 To make things worse, these vitamins and minerals are not found in plants in large amounts, so vegan supplements are difficult if not impossible to find.

Veganism and Snoring

As discussed earlier, soy is a common part of vegan diets. The problem with that is, soy is also the main dietary source of phytoestrogens. These natural plant chemicals, which are sometimes called isoflavones, are known to disrupt the endocrine system. This means that phytoestrogens can have harmful effects on health by changing the levels of hormones that control various processes in the body.^8,9,10

Estrogen is the most important of the hormones disrupted by phytoestrogens. In particular, phytoestrogens work to raise the levels of the sex hormone in the body. This happens because phytoestrogens are structurally similar to human estrogen. They can thus copy the hormone's actions on target organs. Excess estrogen has several adverse health effects, including cancers of different organs, stroke, and blood clots.^11,12,13,14 High estrogen also increases the risk of smooth muscle disorders. For example, too much estrogen makes smooth muscle in the human airway relax more and lose its tone.^15,16 (Muscle tone refers to the ability of a muscle to stay partially contracted. Most muscles are partially contracted all the time.) When air passes through the airway and makes the partially relaxed muscle there vibrate, snoring happens.¹⁷

Conclusion

People have a variety of reasons for following vegan diets. But a vegan diet, especially one with a lot of soy-based foods, can lead to excess estrogen. In turn, high estrogen levels are linked to many health issues, one of which is snoring. Fortunately for snorers, it is possible to stop snoring for good by avoiding all forms of soy. Learn all that you need to know to go soy-free through The Snoring Diet Solution.

References

Can a Vegan Diet Cause Snoring?

Typical Components of a Vegan Diet

Disadvantages of a Vegan Diet

Veganism and Snoring

Conclusion

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