A vegan diet is unhealthy, boring and leads to symptoms of malnutrition? Not at all! Those who choose a vegan lifestyle are doing themselves and their body a favour and are, incidentally, also being kind to the environment. And once we’ve looked into it properly, it quickly becomes clear how balanced and nutritious it can be. We’re clearing up the most frequent misconceptions about veganism.
#1 A vegan diet is monotonous and boring
Vegans only eat raw vegetables and salad leaves? On the contrary. A vegan diet offers a colourful palette of varied and healthy foods. Be it seitan as a meat replacement or a refreshing almond drink instead of milk – it is often when we cut out animal products that we discover a wealth of new ways of making our menus more exciting, and liberate ourselves from boring habits that date back to our childhood. With just a few simple tips and tricks, virtually every dish can also be prepared in vegan form. Ever tried spaghetti bolognese with textured soy protein? Be it Asian, Indian or Mediterranean – culinary boredom doesn’t exist for adventurous vegans.
#2 Lack of nutrients
This misconception has already been cleared out of the way with the first point. Because if we use the entire spectrum of plant foods, we don’t need to worry about malnutrition. Whether it’s pulses, wholegrain products, beans, green vegetables, nuts, seeds or kernels – many plant foods optimally provide our bodies with all the vitamins and nutrients we need. Nonetheless, with any diet it is possible that we are not getting the recommended dose of a particular nutrient. In this regard, you should pay attention to your personal needs. Our RINGANA Supplements can provide your body with customised support.
Critical nutrients:
Among the population at large (and thus an average varied diet), folic acid, and fibre number among the critical nutrients. For parts of the general population, they also include Vitamin B12 and iron. With a vegan diet, special attention needs to be paid to the minerals iron and zinc, Vitamins B12 and B2, and vegans also need to ensure that they are getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids. A lack of iodine, Vitamin D and calcium can exist with any type of diet.
#3 A vegan diet is not compatible with sport.
Peak athletic performance and a vegan diet don’t go together? Here too, the opposite is often the case. It is precisely because they engage so awarely with their diet that many vegan athletes choose more healthy foods instead of fast junk food. That not only boosts performance but also promotes wellbeing. With a little planning, getting an adequate supply of protein and calories isn’t a problem either. There are plenty of plant-based protein sources available. Be it beans, nuts, chick peas or lentils – with vegan superfoods, you will quickly be in the best shape. Our SPORT protein offers additional support for covering your protein requirements.
#4 A vegan lifestyle is expensive
Vegan foods are overpriced and they’re hard to get? Those days are long past. In recent times the vegan movement has developed enormously so that the range of available foods and markets has increased too. As a vegan, you aren’t reliant on ready foods anyway. Starting with rice, potatoes, carrots and onions, through to oat flakes, nuts and fruit: a vegan diet consists largely of healthy and affordable basic foodstuffs that should be on your menu in any event as part of a balanced diet. You can get them at any normal supermarket, and you can even harvest fresh fruit and vegetables from your own garden in summer. Irrespective of which diet you follow: those who compare prices and pay attention to quality and origin will quickly find affordable, nutritious products.
#5 A vegan diet has a negative impact on one’s social life
Whether it’s an invitation to eat at a friend’s house, or going to a restaurant: eating out can indeed be a challenge for vegans at times. What is important here is to be open about your requirements. At restaurants, it’s usually enough to speak briefly to the staff to arrange a vegan dish – if there isn’t already one on the menu. Friends and acquaintances are generally also grateful for tips and tricks. So the menu can be discussed in advance, or you can, for example, bring a dessert with you. Quite often the vegan variant will be a hit, attracting curious glances from the rest of the dinner guests.
Even if certain prejudices can’t be avoided, the vegan way of life is becoming ever more prevalent in our society where it is not only accepted but meanwhile also actively supported. We at RINGANA think that’s a good thing. Because for us, preserving the environment and respect for animals and plants have always been top priorities for us.
With our vegan fresh skin care and our manufacturing which is free of animal testing, right from the start we have been supporting a sustainable, vegan lifestyle – and that is anything but boring and monotonous.