Veganism in Venezuela

Translated from Spanish. View the original post here

#veganistic


In venezuela the inidce of veganism has been increasing. Currently, according to figures managed by Nixa Martínez, president of the Venezuelan College of Nutritionists, it is estimated that the Venezuelan population dedicated to veganism exceeds 10%.

There is a group of Venezuelans who have voluntarily decided to abolish foods of animal origin and align themselves with veganism. This is for moral, ethical reasons, or for the mere commitment to maintain what they consider to be a healthier diet.

The number of Venezuelans vegans is increasing every day and is doing so due to the same economic situation and the limitations it now has compared to what they ate before,” says Martínez.


Vegans are those who do not consume any food from animals and do not even wear or use products that have been made from animal materials.

The main sources of food for a vegan are fruits, vegetables, grains and cereals, legumes and nuts. In this sense, both specialists and vegans agree that it is a diet, paradoxically, more expensive than a traditional diet.



Veganism in Venezuela is totally uphill because of the type of education that exists in the country, since most people like food that has meat. It is not a plant-based or vegetable-based diet with grains.

The other drawback is that vegan food, and even vegetarian food, is a little higher and difficult to buy for those who receive a minimum wage”.

In 2016 he started a vegan food business in Caracas.

“the real origin of veganism is based on Hindu religions and the religious belief that some animals are sacred because they are God, and by the belief that their departed loved ones reincarnate into animals that might be eating. In Venezuela, as in Western countries, it is more because of the trend and fashion; not because of religion, others because of animal protection”.

In the case of Venezuela, veganism was introduced at the time that some Hindu fashions increased. In his opinion, “the most likely to follow these diets are Venezuelans who practice yogas, meditations, new age, reiki, and others.

Although the offer of purely vegan restaurants in the country is limited, on social networks, and under the modality of home delivery, the options of sweets and vegan dishes are a little more varied. Even getting a little more physical space on some shelves and still lifes.

Veganism offers advantages such as lower cholesterol consumption and better kidney and liver function, its strict diet creates deficiencies of vitamin b12, iron, folic acid, causing iron deficiency anemia, as well as contributes to the loss of lean mass. In that sense, they explain, it is advisable to supplement nutrition with vitamins and supplements.


Veganism is not recommended in children because it affects their development and growth.