Plant-based nutrition

There is no nutrient that is exclusively found in animals. All nutrients come from plants and can also be absorbed by us directly, without the detour via animals. Only vitamin B 12 should be supplemented. Farm animals are supplemented with other minerals and vitamins, as well as vitamin B 12 or the basic substance cobalt.

By avoiding animal products, we consume very low saturated fats, no cholesterol (which we produce ourselves), no trans fats (if we avoid hydrogenated fats), no arachidonic acid that promotes inflammation, no purines that can lead to gout, no antibioticresidues, no pus components, hormone-like growth factors (which can promote cancer growth, for example), etc.

Due to the conditions under which they are kept, the animals, which are very susceptible to diseases due to breeding, are necessarily treated with antibiotics again and again. This affects poultry farming the most. Due to resistances, reserve antibiotics are already being used. This also reduces the range of antibiotics available to us. Further consequences of this attitude are multi-resistant germs.

The contact between humans and animals (via fodder, wild animal markets) also leads to the transmission of viruses. This has already led to dangerous diseases for humans. These cross-species diseases (zoonoses) pose massive problems for us, our healthcare system and our economy. Examples of these diseases are measles, smallpox, whooping cough, typhoid flu, leprosy, tuberculosis, and probably also Covid-19.

Proteins consist of amino acids. Of the approximately 320 known amino acids, 21 can be used to form proteins. And only 9 of them actually have to be absorbed with our food. The supplied proteins are again split into amino acids in the digestion and reassembled to form endogenous proteins.

Carbohydrates are simple or complex sugars. They exist in different forms and are produced by plants through photosynthesis. Our body is also able to produce glucose itself in times of lack of supply. This goes from emptying the corresponding stores to using other macronutrients, which then can no longer perform their actual task. It therefore makes sense to supply the body with its "fuel" regularly.

Iron is a mineral that occurs in various forms and is the most deficient nutrient worldwide. In animal organisms it occurs as haem iron. Due to its structure it is easier to absorb, but this does not mean that it is healthier. A high intake of haem iron is associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. In plants it is present as non-haem iron. There are both substances that make absorption difficult and substances that significantly increase absorption. An important factor here is the iron status.

Calcium is the quantitatively most important mineral in the human body. It is a basic building block of bones and teeth. Most people consider cow's milk an indispensable supplier of calcium. However, 3/4 of the world population is lactose intolerant a after being weaned off. The role of cow's milk is therefore completely secondary. Calcium comes into the animals via the vegetable feed and we can also get it very well from plants. The calcium in plants is in many cases equivalent, in many plants it is sometimes twice as much bioavailable as in cow's milk. As with iron, there are some substances that inhibit or promote absorption.

We primarily produce vitamin D ourselves. However, in our latitudes (usually too little UVB radiation) and with our lifestyle (skin covered by clothing, increased indoor exposure), the self-synthesis is often insufficient, which is why vitamin D is a critical nutrient for the entire population. It could be covered by a daily portion of cod liver oil or fatty sea fish, but this is unrealistic.

Dietary fibres are indigestible multiple sugars in the cell walls of plants. Although they have no nutritional value, among other things they bind foreign substances/toxins, improve intestinal health, ensure satiety and a more constant blood sugar level. 3/4 of the German population does not reach the recommended intake level. Vegans are usually even well above the minimum recommendation.