What it is to follow veganism

Mitchelle D'Souza, Publisher / reporter

What is veganism?

Health diets come and go, but the vegan diet is the one that has lasted for decades and continues to gain popularity.

First, let's start by demystifying the term "vegan" which is largely used without an adequate understanding of the concept.

To put things in perspective, people who practice veganism rigorously follow a plant-based diet, thus avoiding the use of animal foods such as dairy products, eggs, honey, meat, poultry, fish and fruits. of sea, as well as the avoidance of raw materials of animal origin (silk, leather, fur, wool, etc.); processed foods from ingredients derived from animals (gelatin, lactic acid, whey, etc.); entertainment based on animals; and goods tested on animals.

So, in theory, veganism is not limited to omitting certain foods from your diet.

It is a discipline that strives to avoid as much as possible the exploitation of innocent creatures and that shows compbadion for the environment and the animal kingdom at its center.

However, aside from ethical reasons, individuals may also choose to become vegan for health or environmental reasons, or for a combination of all three.

With the increase in the number of vegan subscribers, the prevalence of vegan food products, restaurants built on vegan ideals, fashion products, make-up products and ethically manufactured drugs, are increasing for meet the growing demand.

Therefore, leading a vegan life in the present age is not as exaggerated as it might seem, for example in the 90s.

In addition to ethical reasons, individuals may also choose to become vegan for health or environmental reasons. Alain Apaydin / TNS

Does a vegan diet deprive you of valuable nutrients?

A relevant question in the minds of those who are wary of this type of diet or those who are deliberating to join the vegan tribe is: to refrain from animal products let-t- there is a big gap in our nutritional needs?

According to Abeer Majed Al Kusayer, nutritionist and dietician at Al Qbadimi Hospital in Sharjah, vegans can lead a perfectly healthy life because there are many sources of nutrients in the plant world.

"Proteins of animal origin contain saturated fats, cholesterol, antibiotics and hormones. In contrast, plant-based proteins contain polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, fiber and many other phytonutrients beneficial to health, including vitamins, polyphenols and other antioxidants.

"We can get all the protein we need from plants. So it's up to you, "says Al Kusayer.

What are the food options available to vegans?

Al Kusayer claims that herbal foods such as beans, Greek yogurt, nut butter, oatmeal, seeds, cauliflower, spinach and broccoli contain large amounts of nutrients and are therefore an ideal substitute for meat and dairy products.

But you may be wondering that vegans are probably struggling to eat in the UAE? This is not the case, thankfully.

Our region has many restaurants for a vegan clientele.

As environmentally conscious citizens adopt more sustainable and organic lifestyles, restaurants offer special menus rich in fruits and vegetables.

The case in point is Fuchsia Urban Thai. It offers a basic menu, Very Vegan, featuring up to 16 dishes for the vegan market, including corn fritters, wok-fried quinoa and chicken-fried cashew nut sautéed chicken. to name a few.

Fuchsia Urban Thai offers a vegan menu featuring dishes such as fried spicy brown rice (above) and wok-fried quinoa, to name a few.

In keeping with the holy month, the Thai restaurant also offers a special vegetarian menu for Ramadan, including a paleo pumpkin soup, a rice salad and spicy brown rice.

JLT's popular pan-Asian restaurant NARA has also taken the vegan train, thanks in part to the loyalty of its owners to vegans and vegetarians.

The dishes (Kung Pao lentils, crispy asparagus and crystal vegetable dumplings) featured in their vegan menu are a variation and an upgraded version of the restaurant's favorite clbadics.

Common Grounds Coffee offers healthy, innovative and wholesome vegan dishes, full of benefits.

The Turkish restaurant Günaydin at Dubai Mall makes a vegan kebab.

The favorite of all time at this dream location for health buffs is the Vegan Black Bean and Sesame Burger.composed of a blend of ingredients both pure and tasty (think of a crushed avocado, chilli, marinated ginger root, kale, cucumber, cabbage and sweet potato fries) .

Their lettuce wrapper is another vegan winner.

Common Grounds is not the only restaurant to offer fake meats and healthy dishes. The Günaydin Turkish Restaurant, located in Souq Al Bahar, Dubai Mall, offers a fake meat kebab that promises to offer the same punch as the traditional minced meat variety.

Molded with chickpeas, bulgur, onion, eggplants and pepper, vegans can bite.

And it's not just the food that has received the vegan treatment. The Coffee Club, very present in the UAE, offers a purely vegetal creation: the Vegan Chia Pot.

The Coffee Club offers a pure, herbal creation, the Vegan Chia Pot.

It's a blend of chia seeds infused with coconut cream and coconut milk, with layers of fresh berries topped with sliced ​​almonds and coconut chips.

Who said that vegan food was boring?

Herbal foods such as oatmeal, seeds and nuts contain large amounts of nutrients and are therefore an ideal substitute for meat and dairy products. E. Jason Wambsgans / TNS

You can find many vegan dishes such as crisp asparagus at the pan-Asian restaurant NARA at JLT.

Vegan black bean and vegan burger from Common Grounds are very powerful.

Wok Fried Thai Quinoa Fuchsia Urban.

The Vegan Rainbow Sushi Roll from Common Grounds is composed of watermelon marinated in tamari and togarashi, sticky rice, avocado and other healthy components.

Pop singer Miley Cyrus is an ardent supporter of veganism. She told Vanity Fair in 2019 that her diet also reflected her fashion choices. Lindsey Parnaby / TNS

Celebrities who swear by veganism

The transition to veganism is a major lifestyle choice, which many claim can improve energy levels, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and clear up all skin problems.

While motivations range from ethics to the environment, see which celebrities have taken the vegan train.

Miley Cyrus

The pop singer is a pbadionate advocate of animal rights, telling Vanity Fair In 2019, his diet also reflected his fashion choices: "I challenge the system more than ever.

Choosing to live as a sustainable vegan activist means wearing more vintage style (less waste, enjoying longer pieces), playing with the latest green technologies and creating custom vegan pieces with some of my favorite designers. "

Natalie Portman

The actor decided to become vegan eight years ago after learning more about the environmental consequences of consuming products of animal origin.

Speaking at the 2017 Environmental Media Awards Ceremony, she said: "Industrial agriculture is responsible for most of the air pollution, water and soils – which also disproportionately affects our poor communities. "

We can get all the proteins we need from plants. So, it's up to you to choose.

Beyonce

Although she chooses to consider herself to be vegetal rather than vegan, the Halo The singer suffered a 22-day vegan challenge with her husband Jay-Z in 2013 and is believed to have maintained her diet ever since.

Ariana Grande

the Dangerous woman The singer announced that she would become vegan in November 2018. To The daily mirror in a recent interview, she explained: "Much of the meat that people eat has been genetically modified, or if it is not the case, the food that the animal has been fed has been consumed." is difficult to transform by a human being, so cutting it out has made me feel immediately better and stronger than ever before. "

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West revealed that she had started eating an herbal diet on Instagram in April 2019.

Mike Tyson

The former heavyweight boxing champion revealed that he had become vegan in 2010. "I would have liked to be born like this," he told Fox News in 2011. " When you discover the processed products you eat, I wonder why I was crazy all these years. "

Kim Kardashian

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West revealed that she had started eating an herbal diet on Instagram in April 2019. Sharing two photographs of vegan dishes in her Instagram account, the 38-year-old woman wrote : "I eat everything that is herbal when I'm at home."