Vegetarianism: A way of life that goes beyond not eating meat | Santarém and its region

Vegetarianism is often categorized in ovolactovegetarianismo, which excludes meat, but uses eggs, milk, and dairy products in its diet. lacto-vegetarianism, which uses milk and dairy products; ovovégétarisme; who uses eggs and strict vegetarianism, which excludes all animal products from food. In addition to food, there is veganism, which also excludes non-food animal products such as wool, leather, silk and skin from their lifestyle.

Many vegetarians and vegans have seen activists and the choice becomes a social movement. Veganism, because it deals with animal rights, is linked to ethical reasons. Vegans disagree with practices such as circuses with animals, rodeos, products tested on animals and any other form of activity in which the animal is exploited.

In Santarem, the number of restaurants and options without meat is not huge, but this scenario is changing. When you think about it, Betânia Spangemberg opened a vegetarian restaurant in the seaside resort of Alter do Chão, about 7 years ago. Having become a vegetarian thirty years ago, she started eating meat again after moving from Rio de Janeiro to Santarém, because she wanted to know about regional foods, especially fish, and take up the challenge of preparing vegetarian menus. "dialogue with local knowledge", as she pointed out.

According to her, the restaurant's cuisine is totally tied to the aspects of the region and the inspirations she found along the way. "I wanted to show what I could do to create vegetarian vegetarian cuisine, which takes into account the knowledge, culture, beauty, flavor and scent of the region. […] My cuisine has a remarkable flavor, like Pará , colorful, cheerful, surprising, "he said.

All of the learning she needed was also to replace nutrients, depending on the potential of existing foods in the area. "You have to retain the functionality of a dish, replenish your protein." The positive lipids of fish can be replaced by the excellent edible oils for health that we have here, as well as the acai, the "fish", and the fish. avocado, tapioca and beans, crayfish, butter, etc. To replenish iron, dark green vegetables and added vitamin C, such as lemon-based sauces, "he explained.

She says that maintaining balance is not difficult. Nutritionist Cibele Gonzaga explains that there is a wide variety of options for vegetarian consumption and she can be very healthy.

"Whole foods are high in fiber, the health of the person improves with the inclusion of these foods, the nutrients that should receive the most attention when we stop eating meat [vermelha e branca] : Omega 3, Vitamin B12, Iron and Protein For vegans, the only nutrient that a vegan diet can afford is Vitamin B12, which can be supplemented with supplements.It is also important to know the calcium, "he said.

Thinking about meal preparation ends up being an important path for those looking for a healthy diet, because it's not just about cutting meat and including carbohydrates.

Some people, when they become vegetarians, can resort to industrialized foods and soy, because they do not know the variety of existing foods. According to nutritionist Cibele Gonzaga, soy is a food rich in nutrients, such as protein and fiber, and a great substitute for beef, but moderation is needed.

"Caution should be exercised because of the presence of isoflavones (estrogen-like substance), the effects of this substance on an immature reproductive system such as that of the child are unknown. Studies have also shown that soy interferes with the production of thyroid hormone (thyroid), which may not be indicated in people with a genetic predisposition to hypothyroidism. warns Cibele.

Vegetarians should include a variety of foods and research nutrients and choices of recipes that can be prepared. Gidalte de Sousa Oliveira, 43, has been a vegetarian since the age of 11. He and his family are committed to eating healthy foods that contain all the nutrients they need, directly from vegetables. "We are trying to replenish nutrients from a direct diet, because we know that animals feed on vegetables to obtain them, we are looking for foods that already contain healthier and purer proteins," he said. he declared.

Gidalte's family meets on weekends and prepares the most varied recipes, such as soy cheese, soy muffins, lentils, palm hearts, among others. In addition to the parents, nine brothers, seven men and two women, are vegetarians. Everyone lives close to each other. Gidalte's father is 84 years old and has not eaten meat for 60 years. For 20 years, Gidalte's mother has been a vegetarian, according to him. Most children followed suit.

"We have not eaten meat for years and today we are even disgusted when we are close to meat, even though I am educated and not shown," he said. he declares. The man claims that he and the other members of the family are in very good health.

"I have been married for 21 years, and from that moment I have never taken medicine for diseases such as anemia, among other things that people think we will have." Sometimes I take the flu, simple thing. People say, "How do you have the strength to work?" We were raised on the farm, we work in all kinds of services and very well, "he says.

Encouraging a person to become a vegetarian must generally reduce the impact on the environment, respect animals' lives, have a healthier diet and even Religious reasons: Gisalte attends the Seventh-day Adventist Church – Movement of Reform.

Although religious Foods considered "clean" are allowed, and many churchgoers are vegetarians. The rationale is that in the beginning, people did not eat meat and that it was allowed only after the flood.

"We chose not to eat for health reasons and we know that from the beginning, the original food for humans was not meat, but vegetables." This was allowed after the flood, "Gisalte said.

His brother, Oseias de Sousa Oliveira, is 51 years old and has been a vegetarian since the age of 4 years. This reinforces the justification. "When God formed the world until the seventh day, he left all the tree that gives seed to the food." At that time, people did not eat meat. But now, I believe God wants a simpler regime, "he said.

Beyond that, there are other reasons that Osea does not consume meat. "Today, if we are careful, everything is done with hormones, apart from the mistreatment of animals, there are documentaries showing how they are killed, chicks who do not know the mother, when they have the defective wing or the broken beak, are selected and then thrown into a bucket to be killed, "he added.

He and his brother say that they feel no desire to eat meat. "One who does not eat meat does not miss it.It is as if someone who does not smoke does not miss a cigarette."

People generally think that they must consume meat to stay healthy or do not get used to vegetarian eating. But, according to Bethany Spangemberg, after a while without eating meat, the person gets used to it and no longer recognizes it as a good food.

"At first, there is a prejudice, but I understand why it is not a very popularized thing.Many people think," Why will I pay for a plate of food to eat salad? "They think vegetarians only eat it, but they come here and are surprised," he said.

Bethany says that she comes from a family that eats meat and that when she became a vegetarian, many people did not understand the reason for this change. "People thought it was weird, they said that I was going to get sick and we had to show that it was possible and learn." It was then that she began to be interested in cooking.

She reports that the motivation to become a vegetarian was initially due to the environment. "One cow is already polluting the planet, and I wanted to add my life to a healthier, less impactful diet for the planet's biome."

In addition, there is compbadion for animals and to find the taste of other foods rather than the more enjoyable meat. "I've always found that pasta, seed, sauce, fruit, syrup and jelly mixes were far more appealing to my taste buds than thinking of roast meat, roast fish." 19659033] Bethany Spangemberg uses creativity to create vegetarian meals – Photo: Restaurant Siriá / Personal archive “title =” Bethany Spangemberg utilise la créativité pour créer des repas végétariens – Photo: Restaurant Siriá / Dossier personnel “src =” Date : image / jpeg; base64, / 9j / 4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD / 2wBDAAMCAgMCAgMDAwMEAwMEBQgFBQQEBQoHBwYIDAoMDAsKCwsNDhIQDQ4RDgsLEBYQERMUFRUVDA8XGBYUGBIUFRT / 2wBDAQMEBAUEBQkFBQkUDQsNFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBQUFBT / wgARCAAOABkDASIAAhEBAxEB / 8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQQA / 8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABP / aAAwDAQACEAMQAAABB0s52LOTBrF // 8QAHRAAAgIBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwQBAgAFBhITFf / aAAgBAQABBQIFORmm4WZWJcDnpFzR2iDqsWCRueoSh6HM / 8QAGhEAAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxExcf / aAAgBAwEBPwG2MXxmlg xAAYEQADAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIRIf // / // aAAgBAgEBPwFOtwmOH EACYQAAIBAwIFBQEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwARIQQSExQiMTRBUZGjsfD / 2gAIAQEABj8CMmp1TrG2ZJWW + f71puWn5rTcMZEg / Kj3DZHa / QQjKPe9efrvrpTja7Fe2Tipku0TwPe8fY5qEOhOpBA4gx0tmvNk à + // xAAEGEAEAA gICAQUAAAAAAAAAAAABESEAMUFREGGBkfDx / 9oACAEBAAE / IXibZRbSPS + zEBGCRWNjO69MFSp + gh4y / bz9jFxd3DsXPGvjH0Mh4l5maNyx3EeVrwT / 2gAMAwEAAgADAAAAENEf / 8QAHBEAAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREAMSFRQYHR / 9oACAEDAQE / EEpaEsNjd98 + wEiZrd3P / 8QAGBEAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEhEfD / 2gAIAQIBAT8QYfVXImrP / 8QAHxABAQADAAEFAQAAAAAAAAAAAREAITFRQXHB0fDx / 9oACAEBAAE / EBUQNAmwHYXSKepkFTmTx5ilYVUmOJk5HTXQI3ng6M / EfGAsvSDJkkKSBdLWbEte9qVNRnee2Wyx4QoCjvrBYec / uvrP / 9k = « />