The word veganism is used to define the eating habit of people who do not consume meat or its derivatives. The subject who practices veganism is called vegan, a term of English origin, invented by Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson, strict vegetarians who felt annoyed when they saw how people who called themselves vegetarians consumed milk and eggs. This food practice is based on the exclusive consumption of local products, avoiding eating animal products, including their derivatives; but above all, ensure that nature and its environment are respected.
Veganism is not only applied in the way of eating, but is complemented with the rejection of certain practices, such as being participants in any act of entertainment, which involves the presence of animals in captivity (circuses, zoos, aquariums, etc.), avoid the use of clothing of animal origin (coats, shoes, wallets, belts, etc.). In short, veganism repudiates any treatment of savagery, exploitation or submission of animals by man.
It is probable that sometimes the vegan is confused with the vegetarian, however, the difference is that many vegetarians do not consume meat, but they do consume foods that are not produced due to the suffering of animals, such as milk., honey and eggs, an action that vegans do not share, since they neither eat animal meat nor consume what comes from them. Therefore, a vegan is a vegetarian, but a vegetarian is not a vegan.
People who follow a vegan diet have a plant-based diet, continuing with what would be a specific nutritional pyramid, finding cereals, vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes. Among the favorite cereals are rice, oats, soybeans, pasta, rye, among others. The consumption of protein is very important for human beings, and it is generally found in meat products, however in veganism it is about substituting plant foods full of proteins, such as nuts, some legumes and vegetables of green color.
When analyzing any type of diet, what is sought is that it is balanced. For a person's body to stay healthy, it is important that their diet includes all the nutrients necessary for their body to function well. While it is true that veganism only brings advantages to people since it prevents them from suffering from diseases such as obesity, cholesterol, etc., it is also true that the human body requires nutrients and proteins that are only added in greater amounts by foods of animal origin. There is a lot of controversy about it, however the important thing is not to go to extremes and to maintain a balance in the diet.
