Diet trend Vegan diet is healthy

Vegan Diet: Trendy Healthy Vegetable Food

02/24/2014

Bill Clinton, Boy George and Mike Tyson. Three very different public figures have one thing in common: they are vegans. A nutritional trend that is estimated to have reached 800,000 people in Germany. Vegans abstain not only from meat and fish, but also from all other animal foods.

Vegans do not eat animal products
Politicians, singers and boxers: The three different personalities Bill Clinton, Boy George and Mike Tyson unite that they have all opted for a vegan diet. In Germany, there are estimates by the Vegetarian Federation (VGE) about 800,000 people who eat vegan. Just like vegetarians, vegans do without fish and meat, but there is also a big difference, as the chief editor of the „pharmacy magazine“, Hans Haltmeier in an AUDIO article says: „Vegetarians do not eat meat or fish and vegans go a little deeper. They also do without any other animal products such as milk or eggs or honey. They eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals and many soy products such as tofu.“

Health aspects for vegan diet
Haltmeier also explains why vegans do not eat animal foods such as milk, cheese or eggs: „Most are ethical reasons behind it, also a bit of protest against factory farming and its excesses. But there are also health aspects, because those who eat vegan are usually slimmer than others. This alone reduces the risk of diabetes and hypertension. The vegan diet is rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, it's all very healthy.“ In addition, people who eat vegan are usually less likely to be overweight.

Balanced nutrition is important
Vegan nutrition is basically healthy. Anyone who is vegan, but should pay attention to balanced, healthy meals as with any other diet. „Of course, if I live vegan, but only eat junk food, that's not healthy. You have to eat well balanced“, explained Christian Vagedes, founder of the Vegan Society Germany e.V., to the news agency dpa last year. Also Antje Gahl from the German Nutrition Society pointed to the necessary awareness: „Vegans need good nutritional knowledge.“ Depending on the diet, they do not consume enough longer chain fatty acids, which mainly feeds fish to the body. There is also a lack of vitamin D or iodine, because in larger quantities this vitamin is contained exclusively in animal products. Nevertheless, there are ways to compensate for that.

Inform about deficiency symptoms
Apotheke-Umschau-chief editor Haltmeier explained to the question whether it can come to deficiency symptoms, because with vegan nutrition the animal foods are missing: „That's true. If you do it very intensively, then it may be that the body is not given enough vitamin B12, because that is actually only in animal foods, but is very important for the body. Then you have to eat fortified foods or just nutritional supplements and the same applies to iodine, calcium and iron.“ No matter which motives one decides for a vegan life, it is certain that one should be well informed and willing to deal with the problems. Recipes for vegan dishes can be found on many websites. (Sb)

Picture: Mika Abey