B2 – Upper Intermediate
In recent years, the vegan diet has grown in popularity as more people opt to cut out animal-based food from their dietary choices for ecological, ethical, and health-related reasons. There is no question that a vegan diet can have a number of beneficial health advantages, such as lowering the chances of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, but there are also confirmations to suggest that it may have a variety of negative effects on the brain.
Learn more about the profound impact of vegan diet to the brain by watching the video.
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0dsvhvc/how-a-vegan-diet-can-affect-your-brain
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “brain fog” mean, “If you are following a strict vegan diet, it’s worth being aware of some of the low level symptoms of B12 deficiency, such as headache, fatigues, poor concentration and brain fog, and low mood and depression.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.
- What does “hover” mean in the sentence, “However, vegetarians have moderate to low amounts and vegans hover at around 20-30% of the adequate intake.”? Use it in a sentence.
- What does “intake” mean, “However, vegetarians have moderate to low amounts and vegans hover at around 20-30% of the adequate intake.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some of the specific nutrients found in a vegan diet that are important for brain health?
- How does a vegan diet impact cognitive function in comparison to non-vegan diets?
- Can a vegan diet improve symptoms of depression and anxiety? If so, how?
- Are there any specific food or supplements that should be included in a vegan diet to support brain health? Please share.
- Can a vegan diet help to prevent or reduce the risk of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia? In what way?
- Are there any specific challenges or considerations that individuals should be aware of when adopting a vegan diet for brain health? Tell me more.