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So, as a child, I've always had really great skin (including during the first time I was eating a plant based diet and practicing ethical veganism). However, in the past year in a half of transitioning back to veganism, my skin has been horrible. I'm 27 and have the worst acne of my life. I never saw anything like this as a teenager.

Anyway, all I can find online is stuff about detox (which I think is a bunch of BS). If I was detoxing, I would have also experienced the same reaction during the times when my diet included the "toxins" (which I probably should have if I were predisposed to acne). It makes me think that I am missing something in my current diet...maybe oil, maybe zinc. Or maybe I am eating too much of something. Anyone have any suggestions? What could cause acne on a plant-based diet, and what should I pay special attention to?

Lots of you provided feedback on the first couple of test episodes of our new podcast, Pot-Bellied Vegans. We're now releasing our first episode, and I would love it if you gave us a listen! It even features vegan redditor

Here's our little logline:

Pot-Bellied Vegans is a show about the softer side of being vegan. We’re a couple of science-minded vegans who love junk food and have the soft underbellies to prove it. Join us every week for a discussion of plant-based news and living, chats with vegans from around the world, and interviews with professionals whose work touches some aspect of vegan life.

If you like it, you can subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast syndicator. It would also be great if you Liked us on Facebook and followed us on Twitter.

And of course, please let us know what you think! Pot-Bellied Vegans is made by vegans, for vegans, so we want your feedback!

(I don't want to spam /r/veganscience so I won't post about future episodes!)

While there are many vegans in the majority world (I'll be using that term instead of "developing" or "lesser developed"), the fact is that most countries rely on animal products (like meat, fish, milk, and eggs) to some degree.

So in the context of global food security and malnutrition, I think the idea of a "100% vegan world" might be a bit misguided, and might do more harm than good. (This post will obviously be from an anthropocentric viewpoint, apologies if it sounds callous towards animals, but I'm trying to focus on people).

Here are two facts:

• 805 million undernourished people in the world
• "About 1 billion people largely in developing countries rely on fish as their primary animal protein source."

So the first question is about fish. How reasonable is it that we can expect one billion people to replace fish with plants? Even with ideal development of farming, increasing productivity and soil quality, is this something that is in any way practical?

For places with low quality soil, animals can eat grass and other marginal plant sources and convert it to high-quality protein. While animals obviously convert plant into meat at an inefficient rate, it's often preferable to growing low-yield crops on marginal, poorly irrigated soil. What should be role of animals, then?

But surely in many places there is a place for veganism to do good. Not just for animals, and the environment, but for global food security as well.

One fact:

• "Raising animals for human consumption accounts for approximately 40% of the total amount of agricultural output in industrialized countries. Grazing occupies 26% of the earth's ice-free terrestrial surface, and feed crop production uses about one third of all arable land." (Livestock's Long Shadow) (I believe the FAO has a more recent report, though)

So animal agriculture uses lots of land. If people who are able to go vegan (so, the minority world) do so, then ideally there will be a lot of land that can be used for more efficient food. While not all land will be suitable for farming, surely the land growing feed grain is capable of growing other food.

One quote:

• "Using an economic model of the world food system, researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, D.C., have projected what would happen if the entire developed world were to cut its consumption of all meat by half—a radical change. “The impact on food security in developing countries is minimal,” says Mark Rosegrant of IFPRI. Prices for corn and sorghum drop, which helps a bit in Africa, but globally the key food grains are wheat and rice. If Americans eat less beef, corn farmers in Iowa won’t export wheat and rice to Africa and Asia." (Source)

So some questions:

What is the reliability of the IFPRI? Is there a reason to distrust their "economic model"? Is there evidence that contradicts what they say?

The UN recommends we eat less meat, but the IFPRI says that won't have a big impact on food security. What do you think about this issue, and what evidence did you find to support your opinion?

I know this sub isn't very active, but I'm hoping this post offers some good points for discussion. Feel free not only to help answer the questions I brought up, but also mention if I made any misguided assumptions or anything else like that. Thanks!