If you are considering the possibility of being vegan or vegan, it is likely that you have wondered if it is actually beneficial or not for your health. We discover the truth about it.
Being vegan is not limited solely and exclusively to consuming certain foods, but is a lifestyle in itself. More and more people, for different reasons, have decided not to consume animal protein.
Such people defend this lifestyle; however, there are others that point out that veganism is not healthy for the body, arguing that not ingesting animal protein can have serious consequences for health in the medium and long term.
In Spain, there are no official statistics on the number of vegetarians in our country. However, some estimates indicate that around 3% of the population is vegetarian or vegan; a much lower percentage than in other northern European countries, 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 vegan 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, in addition to eggs.
Vegans are strict vegetarians in 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 … Nor do they use footwear or leather clothing, as well as cosmetics that have been tested on animals.
Is veganism good for your health?
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 function; this is found only in red meat. Therefore, vegans and vegetarians should take it as a dietary supplement.
Recommendations for a healthy vegan diet
It is important to eat a varied diet, which includes a large amount of legumes, vegetables, and fruits. To optimize the assimilation of iron in the body, during meals it is advisable to drink a drink high in vitamin C, such as orange juice.
Avoid as far as possible those foods that are manufactured in an industrial way, as well as the consumption of refined flour and sugars.
One recommendation is to go to the doctor and nutritionist to be able to develop a weekly plan or diet; the objective: to feed properly within this stream, but without losing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients necessary for the body.
Vegan recipe
Mushrooms with peas in coconut curry
Ingredients – For 2 people
- 1 medium onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 piece of fresh ginger
- 2 large tomatoes
- 200 ml. coconut milk
- 1/2 tablespoon of paprika (sweet or spicy according to taste)
- 250 g. mushrooms
- 1 glass of peas
- 1/2 tablespoon of salt
Step by step recipe
- First, we chop the onion, garlic cloves and a piece of ginger.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped onion, garlic cloves and ginger for about 7 minutes while stirring with a wooden spoon from time to time.
- Add the mushrooms cut into four pieces and stir again, letting it fry for 2 more minutes.
- We puree the tomatoes and add them to the pan.
- We add the coconut milk, the paprika and the salt. Stir well and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring from time to time.
- Add the peas and cook for another 10 or 15 minutes; the curry has to thicken.
When it’s ready, we serve; we can accompany it with basmati rice. A delicious dish remains!
