Be vegan good or bad for your health?
Being a vegan is not limited exclusively to consuming certain foods, but it is a lifestyle in itself. There are more and more people who, for different reasons, have decided not to consume animal protein.
Such people defend this lifestyle; However, there are others that suggest that veganism is not healthy for the organism, arguing that not eating animal protein can have serious health consequences in the medium and long term.
In Spain, there are no official statistics on the number of vegetarians that exists in our country. However, some estimates indicate that about 3% of the population is vegetarian or vegan; a percentage much lower than that of other countries in northern Europe, but which in recent years has begun to increase significantly. In the United Kingdom, for example, in the last decade, the number of people who have become vegans has increased by 350%.
Vegan VS vegetarian
It is important to establish the differences between being vegan and vegetarian. Vegetarians are those people who only eat vegetables, fruits and dairy products, such as cheese and milk, as well as eggs.
Vegans are strict vegetarians in the diet; Their diet is not based solely on not consuming meat or fish, but they do not eat any food of animal origin: dairy, eggs, honey ... They do not use footwear or skin clothes, as well as cosmetics that have been tested on animals.
Is veganism good for your health?
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics of the United States issued a statement in 2009 stating that both vegetarian and vegan diets are healthy for everyone, including pregnant women, the elderly and children.
Of course, as long as you practice with your head; otherwise, it can lead to a lack of nutrients and vitamins in the body. Therefore, according to this institution, veganism is good for health as long as the diet is well planned.
For example, vitamin B12 is essential for good neuronal functioning; it is found only in red meat. Therefore, vegans and vegetarians should take it as a nutritional supplement.
Recommendations for a healthy vegan diet
It is important to have a varied diet, which includes a large amount of vegetables, vegetables and fruits. To optimize the assimilation of iron in the body, during meals it is advisable to drink a drink with a high content of vitamin C, such as orange juice.
Avoid as much as possible those foods that are processed in an industrial manner, as well as the consumption of refined flour and sugar.
A recommendation is to go to the doctor and nutritionist to prepare a plan or weekly diet; the objective: to feed correctly within this current, but without losing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients necessary for the organism.
Recipe for vegans
Mushrooms with coconut-curried peas
Ingredients - For 2 people
- 1 medium onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 piece of fresh ginger
- 2 large tomatoes
- 200 ml. of coconut milk
- 1/2 tablespoon of paprika (sweet or spicy according to taste)
- 250 g. of mushrooms
- 1 glass of peas
- 1/2 tablespoon of salt
Recipe step by step
- First, we chop the onion, the cloves of garlic and the piece of ginger.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion, garlic cloves and chopped ginger for about 7 minutes while stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
- Add the sliced mushrooms in four pieces and stir again, leaving to sauté 2 more minutes.
- Mash the tomatoes and add them to the pan.
- Add the coconut milk, paprika and salt. Stir well and let cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- We add the peas and cook 10 or 15 minutes more; the curry has to thicken.
When it is ready, we serve; we can accompany it with basmati rice. There remains a delicious dish! This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist. ThemesVegan
