Liam Hemsworth Got Surgery For A Painful Kidney Stone That Developed Because Of His Vegan Diet

Australian heartthrob Liam Hemsworth gained fame for his role in The Hunger Games series, where he played Gale Hawthorne. Born on January 13, 1990, he began his acting career with guest appearances on TV shows before landing significant film roles. His performances in movies like Independence Day: Resurgence and The Last Song further solidified his standing in Hollywood.

Hemsworth's personal life has also been under the spotlight, particularly his relationship with singer and actress Miley Cyrus. The couple met on the set of The Last Song in 2009, beginning an on-again, off-again relationship that led to their marriage in 2018. Unfortunately, they announced their separation in 2019, a matter that received significant media attention.

Hemsworth's commitment to a vegan diet was another notable aspect of his public persona, which was an integral part of his relationship with Cyrus. For about four years, he embraced veganism, originally attributing improvements in his energy levels, sleep, and overall fitness to the plant-based diet. However, his vegan journey took an unexpected turn in 2019 that led to a painful stint in the hospital.

Liam Hemsworth Got Surgery for a Painful Kidney Stone That Developed Because of His Vegan Diet

In a Men's Health interview in 2020, Hemsworth got candid about his health scare. After four years of veganism, he starting feeling lethargic. "Then I got a kidney stone. It was one of the most painful weeks of my life. I was doing press for Isn’t It Romantic. But I had to go to the hospital and get surgery," he said. While the vegan diet is touted as a healthy way to eat, Hemsworth explained how it actually led to his temporary demise.

"It’s all good now, thankfully. But once you get one kidney stone, you have a 50% chance of getting another one if you continue eating the way you were eating," he continued. "Well, my particular kidney stone was a calcium-oxalate kidney stone. It forms from having too much oxalate in your diet. Oxalates are really high in a lot of vegetables, specifically spinach, almonds, beetroot, potatoes."

Calcium-oxalate kidney stones are crystalline formations that develop in the kidneys, composed mainly of calcium and oxalate. They are the most common type of kidney stones and can cause significant pain when passing through the urinary tract. Causes often include high levels of calcium, oxalate, or uric acid in the urine, which may result from a diet rich in certain foods like spinach, rhubarb, and nuts. Other factors like dehydration, obesity, and certain medical conditions can also contribute.

Hemsworth admitted he was eating "five handfuls of spinach" every single morning, along with almond milk, almond butter, and vegan protein powder, which heavily contributed to high amounts of oxalates in his body. He thought that was considered "super healthy," so he had to rethink everything he knew about diet. For the first two years of veganism, he felt strong and his cardio was good too. He also said he originally decided to go vegan for health reasons, but once he healed from the kidney stone, he had to change his entire lifestyle. He started eating high-quality animal products again and does ice baths and Wim Hof breathing regularly.

"If something works well for a period, great, keep doing it. If something changes and you’re not feeling great, you’ve got to reassess it and then figure it out," he said.

But Hemsworth isn't the only person who is waking up to the downfalls of veganism. While a vegan diet may offer some health and environmental benefits, it's not without many downsides. Nutritional deficiencies can be a concern, particularly in Vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids, as these are primarily found in animal products. If not carefully planned, a vegan diet may lack essential nutrients, leading to anemia or bone health issues. High oxalate levels in some plant-based foods may contribute to kidney stones. Moreover, over-reliance on processed vegan foods can lead to a diet high in unhealthy fats and sugars.

In her 2020 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, Hemsworth's ex Cyrus revealed she left veganism due to health concerns. After being vegan from 2013 to 2019, she noticed her brain wasn't functioning properly, feeling malnourished and "running on empty." Despite taking supplements and protein shakes, she realized it wasn't enough for her nutritional needs. She reintroduced fish and omegas into her diet and felt much sharper. Miley's decision illustrates a personal approach to nutrition, prioritizing her health over adherence to a diet that was no longer serving her well, even though she acknowledged potential backlash from the vegan community.

A study involving over 14,000 Brazilians between the ages of 35 and 74 has found a "positive association between the prevalence of depressive episodes and a meatless diet." Even after accounting for various variables, such as socioeconomic status, exercise, smoking, drinking, and BMI, the research found that those who abstained from meat experienced roughly twice as many depressive episodes as those who ate meat regularly. The exact nature of this association remains unclear, and nutrient deficiencies were ruled out as a cause. Some previous studies also support this correlation, highlighting a need for further exploration. While not definitive, this research challenges some prevalent narratives promoting vegetarianism and veganism and urges a more nuanced understanding of dietary choices' impact on mental health.

Not everyone responds the same way to veganism, but more and more research is coming out to prove that health tends to worsen and decline when you eliminate the foods that helped our ancestors get stronger and further their bloodline: high-quality animal products. Veganism is increasingly being linked to infertility, premature aging, and emotional difficulties. Factor farming is certainly not the answer, but there are more conscious, ethical ways to consume animal products. Eat the meat and eggs. Just make sure they're from a reliable local source.

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