Well I don't know that 'all' the 'health nuts' all look thin and anemic. I've never found that to be true.
I see a FEW people like that. I think quite a few of them have other very serious health problems. I know a gal who had cancer - it made her very thin as did the treatments. But she was determined to eat good and felt it really would help her beat the thing. She's had a couple of recurrances but is still hangin' in there.
But that is not the majority of 'health nuts' I know. Some of them indeed are THIN - but that is supposed to be good for ya! And it sure don't seem to hurt 'em. I'm winded on a hike before they are!
vegetarian and being a 'health nut' really has gone mainstream. It's pretty darn normal in most of the US and Europe and everywhere else I go. has been for a very long time. It was over 40 years ago I was gorging myself on Burcher Muesli and yogurt at the airport fast food restaurant in Zurich, and not so many years ago I was snorking down a big cupa Udon and sesame sauce at another airport. If this is being a health nut I wanna be a health nut!
Most of the 'health nuts' I know are having a great time, they look like a million bucks and they are very healthy and fit, exercising, reading up on nutrition, and have a really fun time eating the things they like to eat - lots of fresh fruit, leafy vegetables, lots of herbs and spices, locally made dairy products are very popular, and I would go over to their place for dinner in a heartbeat. And they LOVE our chicken eggs!
Does it prevent cancer? Well, according to what I've read, there are big benefits from being trim, sticking to lean meats and reducing dietary fat, eating lots of leafy green vegetables and the whole nine yards.
The SICKEST person I know is the one who ate the roasts and french fries for the last 40 years. Heart disease, gall bladder disease, joint problems, and a whole lot more he ain't a tellin' us about.