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- There is a threat of nutrient deficiency
- Vegans lack vitamin B12
- Dietary fiber difficult to use
There is a threat of nutrient deficiency
More and more people are eating vegan food, so there are more and more vegan-fed children. But now warns the Federal Minister of Food from damage caused by the diet without meat, milk and eggs
The Federal Nutrition Minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) warns of a vegan diet, so a diet without meat, milk and eggs, especially in children. He says to the "image" that vegan food can lead to dangerous deficiencies caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. In his view, the vegan diet is completely unsuitable.
Vegans lack vitamin B12
There are reasons for an adult to choose a vegan diet that can be accepted and respected. But in children it looks quite different, because in the growth phases brain and nerves can be damaged by a lack of nutrients.
Thus, the vitamin B12 is contained exclusively in animal products. Deficiency of this vitamin can lead to neurological damage or anemia. The Chairman of the Vegetarian Federation Germany (VEBU) Sebastian Joy holds against and replied that an adequate supply of fortified foods or vitamin B12 toothpaste can be ensured.
Dietary fiber difficult to use
Even the head of the Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Berthold Koletzko, advises against children to eat vegan. He says that young children can not properly utilize the high fiber content of a plant rich diet so they are excreted unused. If children are still to be vegan-fed, he recommends the use of multivitamins with B12, zinc, iron, vitamin D and iodine.
He shares this opinion with the head of the Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition of the Leibniz University Hannover, Professor Andreas Hahn. He is also skeptical about the vegan diet and reports on studies that suggest that nutrients from plant sources can be used worse than from animal sources. He also says that the nutritional needs of a vegan diet can only be met by supplementation centers.
On one point, opponents and supporters of the vegan diet are in agreement: It can be dangerous if just all animal foods are removed from the diet. A vegan diet must be well planned, which requires knowledge of this diet.
(WW3)
