Animal Equality is a UK animal rights organization. One of her recent actions was to send secret "agents" to the hatcheries of small chickens and to record with a camera what is happening in the first 24 hours of their lives. The result angered many vegetarians and more.
A small chicken, when born, wants to crawl under its mother's wings. Industry, however, does not know by the rules of nature. The birds that are born are all collected together and thrown into huge crates. Those who escape are trampled. Others will end up in farms where they will live under unacceptable conditions for the rest of their short lives, until they are beheaded.
They will be fed in a completely unorthodox and very fast way: hormones will increase their weight in a very short time. Researchers have estimated that if a baby grew up with these substances, it would weigh over 200 pounds in three to four months.
This case, unfortunately, is not the only one. It is very easy to understand why more and more people share the vegan ethic. However, eating only plant-based ingredients is not as simple as many people think. Evangelos Zoumbaneas, nutritionist and author of the books "The diet in fasting" and "Thin Positive" in which he analyzes in detail the issue of vegetarianism, explains:
"To be a vegan you have to be very well informed and you have to include in your daily life a huge variety of foods of high nutritional value. So he is not a vegan who eats only legumes or french fries. It should take many ingredients and we are mainly interested in proteins, amino acids, or vitamin B12, D, iodine. They are found in very specific and selected foods of plant origin. And it needs very good information and time for proper cooking and cost because while it should not, all these foods are very expensive ".
-How to become a vegan, what is the first thing to do?
First of all, the first thing to do is take a test to find out if you have any type of eating disorder. There are many cases where people who want to become vegan have a fear of food and calories and we need to understand if there is an eating disorder. We do not say no to someone who wants to become vegan but must first cure it if there is one. There are also regular blood tests because many people have low iron, low hematocrit, low B12 and should definitely have extra nutrients. To get started, one must visit a nutritionist who also has knowledge on veganism.
-Who are excluded from the strict vegetarian diet? Who will you say no to?
The pregnant woman should be excluded. Children must be excluded. It's a big mistake for parents to decide what to do vegan, to put their children in this process. This is because it must be done through strict medical and dietary monitoring and it is difficult for these groups to meet all the required nutrients. Pregnant women, for example, should have an increased supply of supplements, which, after all, contradicts the philosophy of veganism. The pregnant woman needs multivitamins, iron, Ω3, folic acid, vitamin D, all that a woman needs for the proper development of the fetus.
-Why are children difficult to become vegan, as you say?
The child has increased needs for nutrients and especially for protein, and it is very difficult to meet these needs of a child. Not that it can not happen but one has to live in the countryside, have direct access to one's own fruits, vegetables, one has to give a lot of money.
-Strict vegetarianism, if not done properly, can cause low hematocrit and sarcopenia?
Yes, it's certain… Sarcopenia is poor muscle mass development. We observe people and children being cachectic due to lack of protein and essential nutrients.
-And as we said they are not covered so simply, to cover for example iron with lentils…
Let me give you a very simple example. Someone will choose lentils. Lentils themselves have some essential amino acids that the body will manage, but they do not have all the essential amino acids. To be vegan I have to eat lentils, I also have to eat olives and a wholemeal bread if I can and a salad that includes olive oil and a little linseed oil and if possible, I add to my salad a few grated walnuts and hazelnuts. I need to eat a meal with at least ten different types of food so that the body can gather the necessary amino acids to make the protein it wants.
-What about vitamin B12 which is found mainly in animal foods and has to do with the nervous system?
It is a basic vitamin, to have a good hematocrit and good hemoglobin. It exists mainly in animal foods and if one does not consume animal foods we must administer it through a supplement. and we must know that it is not an easy supplement. We usually prefer this vitamin in spray form to be absorbed by the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat so that it is better absorbed. It is present in plant ingredients but in small quantities to meet daily needs. It is present in bee pollen or brewer's yeast for example.
-With the Ω3 found mainly in fish?
Ω3 is found in fish, almonds, walnuts in general, in unsalted fruits, these are generally covered by other sources.
Can a vegan gain weight when they do not make the right choices?
Clearly it can make you fat and cause some health problems. A vegan is a conscious person and should consume foods that respect both the earth and the environment. Vegan is not eating breads and french fries. It should have a different philosophy for life.
Until recently, Giovanna Mendoza Aires was a vegetarian with a large Instagram audience. She posted daily information about her diet until she was "arrested" for eating fish and eggs. Her followers were outraged and then she publicly stated that she acquired hormones from her diet and did not want to continue. Giovanna claimed that she was diagnosed with pre-menopause and that her period was interrupted.
If someone is deficient in nutrients, the hormonal system can begin to be disturbed, says Mr. Zoumbaneas and continues: "In such cases we understand that the person is very likely to not have some scientific guidance. You can not say I read five books and became vegan. It is not "I will read on my own and do self-healing" as it is done in psychology, say. We need health professionals, scientists who will guide a person properly. It takes time, effort and cost. "
In general, how do you judge this food movement, does it agree with you as a scientist?
In general I agree. Of course, humans could also turn to small production units where the animals grow naturally and the products produced do not have hormone antibiotics, they are not mutated. Also, a person may not eat meat or fish for moral reasons, but he can consume products such as cheese, eggs, dairy. A hen lays eggs all the time and not everything is fertilized to say that you are taking the life of a future chicken. The love of nature is acceptable to me. But the vegan diet must be done properly.