Plant-based foods are healthy and provide many nutrients. In Germany, more and more people are eating meat-free and, increasingly, completely without animal products. In January 2015, the Vegetarian Association of Germany (VEBU) estimated the number of vegetarians living in Germany at 7.8 million. Among vegans, there are approximately 900,000 people who abstain from all animal products or animal ingredients in their diet.
The motivation for adopting a vegan or vegetarian diet varies from person to person . Ethical reasons often lead almost 60% of women and over 60% of men to avoid meat and other animal products. Consumers are often unaware of how much meat they consume daily: at breakfast, as a snack, at lunch, and at dinner.
Personal health is also a trigger for a vegan or vegetarian diet for almost 30% of women and almost 20% of men. Other decisions to adopt a plant-based diet are based on emotional arguments for almost 5% of women and approximately 15% of men, such as the suffering in factory farming or the culling of male chicks in laying hens.
What is vegetarianism?
As a vegetarian, you reject food that comes from a killed animal. However, there are differences in the way you abstain from animal products, and not all vegetarians eat the same diet. Some abstain from meat and fish, while others also reject other animal products such as dairy and eggs:
· Lacto-ovo vegetarians (ovo = egg / lacto = milk): Dairy products and eggs are part of the diet, but meat and fish are not. This form of vegetarianism is the most common.
· Ovo-vegetarians (Ovo = egg): Eggs are part of the diet, but no dairy products, no meat and fish
· Lacto-vegetarians (lacto = milk): Dairy products are part of the daily diet, but no eggs, no meat and fish
And what is veganism?
The vegan diet evolved from vegetarianism, as vegans completely avoid animal products and additives. This includes honey, eggs, and gelatin. In addition to a diet of non-animal origin, one can also make sure in everyday life that clothing, shoes, and furniture are free of animal products and animal testing.
Meat consumption and resources
Our meat consumption is having an impact on global climate change. Intensive animal farming already accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, more and more arable land is needed to grow feed for factory farming. This results in the destruction of vast areas of rainforest, accelerating climate change.
Impressive figures clearly demonstrate the strain on our resources for livestock farming. Around 70% of the world's freshwater is used in agriculture, particularly for livestock farming. The production of 1 kg of pork requires over 6,000 liters of water. In comparison, the water consumption for grain is about a quarter of the amount.
Special requirements for plant-based nutrition
In general, a vegetarian diet can provide our bodies with all the nutrients we need to survive. Vegetarians are usually well-supplied with many micronutrients thanks to their diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Plant-based foods are often low in fat, high in fiber, and contain complex carbohydrates. Studies therefore show that the health of "veggies" is generally above average.
Fresh, high-quality foods and careful preparation of fruits and vegetables are essential for a good supply of nutrients. You should also have a good knowledge of nutrition. The more vegan the diet, the more careful attention must be paid to ensuring an adequate intake of certain nutrients.
Of course, only if you consume a sufficient amount of plant-based foods can you achieve a high level of nutrients in your body. In addition, some vitamins and trace elements of plant origin are not as readily bioavailable to our bodies as those from animal-based foods.