Your death, my life

Hi dear friends

Do you know what Anne Hathaway, Ellen, Brad Pitt, and Bryan Adams have in common (besides being beautiful and rich, of course)? They are all vegetarians.

Let's clarify this term, which is still unknown to many: vegetarianism, is a set of practices that exclude the use of meat, fish, and animal derivatives for ethical, religious, health, and environmental reasons.

With this definition, I've already spoiled one of the answers given by a dear friend of mine who has been living this lifestyle for two years now. I asked her a few questions to fill in some gaps that unfortunately still exist in society.

What motivates people (so you) to adopt this type of diet?

I think the main reasons why a person might decide to follow this diet are three: love for animals, environmental ethics, and health.

The first is simple to explain and is the one that personally pushed me to adopt this lifestyle: I love animals and could no longer bear the idea that they were brought into the world to live a life often unworthy (most of the meat on the market comes from intensive farming where animals are not kept in optimal conditions) and then be killed just to end up on our plates.

I also think there are no 'A or B class' animals; all animals deserve to live (from the kitten we treat like a prince in our apartments to the cow on the farm).

One can easily be driven to make this change for a consistent attempt to reduce environmental impact: just get informed and look at some data to discover that the meat industry has a very negative impact on the environment, and even just this type of change, if carried out by more and more people, can really make a big difference.

The last reason is related to health. Often meat, as it is produced today (in intensive farming), is rich in hormones and drugs given to animals to make them grow faster and to keep them from getting sick. Additionally, meat in general contains saturated fats, and some types (like red meat and cured meats) are not considered healthy and nutritious foods (in fact, dietitians usually advise against eating them more than twice a week).

What exactly have you eliminated from your diet?

I have completely eliminated meat and fish. However, I continue to eat eggs, milk, and dairy products.

Is there any food you miss?

No, at the moment I don't miss any food. I've been a vegetarian for two years; at the beginning, I missed some foods that I liked a lot and had eaten all my life, but over time I got used to not eating them and replaced them with other foods. This change even allowed me to discover new tastes and dishes that I eat daily and can't do without (like my beloved hummus). For those who want to make this change but fear missing some foods, they can try plant-based foods similar to those they already eat. There are several good options on the market of this type of product, some very valid and faithful to the original taste of meat.

Over the years, vegetarianism is spreading more and more, why is that? After all, humans are designed to eat meat (simply the structure of our teeth), and there are anthropological studies that attest to the fact that an omnivorous diet in human evolution allowed the development of new organs that distinguish us from other animal species (such as the brain).

I think more and more people are asking questions about what they decide to put on their plates and are becoming more aware of the suffering that can be behind a simple hamburger.

To compensate for the lack of meat, if I'm not mistaken, you told me you take supplements. Based on what? Did you get medical advice, or do you regulate it based on your body's reactions?

Yes, the only supplement I take every day is vitamin B12, which is found only in meat and, to a small extent, in eggs and dairy products. I informed myself, and it's the only nutrient I can't get directly from my diet. Other than that, I eat very varied and balanced meals and feel very well and full of energy. For the health aspect of this type of dietary choice, I recommend following Dr. Silvia Goggi, who disseminates information with a scientific basis on the subject of plant-based nutrition.

For more information:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silviagoggi/?hl=it

• Web page: https://www.plantbasedclinic.com/
  

Your choice will also have influenced the world of fashion, I guess...

Sure, I avoid buying bags, shoes, and clothes made of real leather.

I would like to thank Elisa for being available for this interview and sharing her experience.

As for us, until next time!

V