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According to European recognized authorities, the established term "vegan food" refers to products without animal food ingredients (European Vegetarian Union, 2016 & Vegan Society, 2016).
Although the vegetarianism is a diet that has been chosen by a large part of the population for several years, strict vegetarianism (vegan) and the choices that those who follow it have been further strengthened in recent years.
The main difference between the vegetarians and vegans is that vegetarians do not eat meat from beef, pork, chicken and fish, but consume their derivatives and products with the above ingredients, such as dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt), eggs or both. On the other hand, the vegan diet is more restrictive and excludes all products that contain animal ingredients. Because of the more restrictions that characterize the vegan diet people need to take more care with food combinations and nutrient adequacy to ensure they meet their daily nutritional requirements.
The number of people who have switched to a vegan diet has increased significantly in many industrialized countries of the Western world, and as a result, their influence on the food, pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement industries is increasing.
Those who choose the vegan diet refrain from consuming ingredients of animal origin. This includes products for which the animal must be killed (meat and gelatin), fish and seafood, but also products made from them, such as dairy, eggs and even honey. However, the vegan approach is not only about food issues, but usually reflects the more general moral attitude of those who declare themselves vegan, towards any form of animal exploitation. For example, avoiding the use of leather materials or care products that have been tested on animals are included in the vegan lifestyle and represent the overall moral obligation we all have towards every living organism.
At the same time, the response of the scientific community towards the community of vegan people is great. A significant amount of research studies the norms, values, motivations, dietary beliefs, the way someone adopts a vegan diet and also the eating disorders that vegans have to deal with.
Η vegan diet is associated with many health benefits, including lower risk of cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and reduced risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer. There are also many parents who have implemented a strict vegetarian diet in their children, due to the health risks attributed to the consumption of animal products, such as the uncontrolled use of antibiotics and hormones.
However, strict vegetarianism should not be practiced without guidance. A dietician-nutritionist is the most suitable to advise and direct the correct adoption of such a diet. The role of a health professional becomes even more necessary when the patient has underlying diseases.
A vegan diet it removes categories of foods and ingredients and with them sources of nutrients from the diet. Thus planning and the right combination of meals is necessary to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
The key nutrients that vegans may be deficient in are summarized below:
