The vegan diet is on the rise for various reasons:as a sign of protest against the exploitation of animals, in response to intolerances to certain products, for ecological reasons which push us to eat more responsibly and therefore reduce our consumption of meat to preserve the planet, or just because we thought it was more “healthy”… Result? There are more and more vegan products on the shelves of supermarkets. However, vegan is not necessarily synonymous with healthy eating. The magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs wanted to establish the truth, by taking a closer look at the list of ingredients of many vegan foods and dishes.
A vegetarian cheese, for example, would contain vegetable oils, starches, stabilizers (including additives) and flavorings… Not very vegetable or natural! Some vegetable steaks also compensate for a low protein content with a high carbohydrate intake (so that it "sticks to the body"). In fact, the problem comes mainly from prepared meals:to offer food without any animal exploitation, brands are forced to adapt the way products are made. Which means replacing some ingredients with others, and that's where the problem lies. Sugar, additives, preservatives… No, vegan foods in the supermarket are not necessarily healthier than their omnivorous counterparts. The solution ? As in the case of a more varied diet, the best is always to cook yourself. So we know what we eat and we also control the costs, since the food offered in the supermarket is often quite expensive.
In summary:being vegan by conviction, yes, being vegan because we think it's necessarily healthier... not necessarily!
