A plant-based diet is highly beneficial not only to people, but to the environment as well. People’s interest in their own health, in the quality and origin of the food they buy and consume, as well as in the ecological footprint each of us produces continues to grow.
All of the world’s leading heath and dietary organisations have already confirmed that, when you follow a few basic principles, a vegan diet is not only safe, but also fully satisfies all of the needs of the human body, and has a positive impact on many lifestyle diseases. With a plant-based diet, it is easy to get the necessary amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium and iron, as well as omega 3 unsaturated fatty acids, ample amounts of which can be found in foods such as nuts and quinoa, which are served in organic quality at our bistro.
SPORTS AND A PLANT-BASED DIET
Vegan athletes, whose numbers continue to grow, often note that they achieve better results and have more energy on a plant-based diet. An example from right here at home is the heavyweight division world championship title holder in the demanding combat sport, Muay Thai, Jan Müller. Famous vegan and vegetarian international athletes include such people as Serena and Venus Williams, Carl Lewis, Mike Tyson, Murray Rose, Patrik Baboumian, Martina Navrátilová, and many others. In 2016, the Czech Republic even introduced the first annual Vegan Athlete of the Year (Vegan sportovec/sportovkyně roku) competition. Famous vegans from other disciplines include such people as actors Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Brad Pitt, and Natalie Portman…
THE IMPACT ON AN ENVIRONMENT
Reputable studies state that the continually growing population cannot be satiated by animal products, which place high demands both on finances and on the environment. Tropical rainforests are not cut down for soy that is consumed by people, but for its genetically-modified variant that is fed to livestock for meat consumption. However, the resulting animal-based product contains only 5% of the soy proteins necessary for the “production” of one kilogram of meat. A plant-based diet could feed a third-world country, but an animal-based diet cannot satisfy this need. In this way, simply by choosing what they eat, people have the ability to contribute significantly to a decrease in CO2 emissions (according to the UN, raising livestock produces more greenhouse gases than cars), and to a decrease in water consumption and deforestation. And, of course, this also decreases the number of factory farms, slaughterhouses, and similar not-entirely-ethical establishments. Or, as Sir Paul McCartney once said: “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian.”
ETHICS AND COMPASSION
Each year, people kill 55 billion animals for meat consumption, and 100 million are tortured and then killed in testing for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. These alarming numbers can also be reduced, despite the fact that people think that the impact of a single person is insignificant. Each year, the consumption of a plant-based diet saves the lives of approximately 200 animals. However, people do not need to think specifically about slaughter; perhaps an even less ethical practice is the artificial insemination of cows for the purpose of repeated milking. Taking into account the fact that a human is the only creature on Earth that drinks the milk of another mammal (and in adulthood, no less), we may come to realise that this abuse of cows is truly unnecessary. And, what’s more, is that, for many years now, eating a vegan diet has not meant submitting to any flavour or nutritional limitations. On the contrary, a plant-based diet will naturally expand your flavour spectrum, and you will enjoy your food much more and it will make you feel better.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS
The market for products of plant origin is expanding at a rapid rate, and the prices of these products are decreasing. Today, it is easy to purchase vegan salami, sausages and hot dogs for grilling, smoked products, plant-based milks and yoghurt with live cultures, various cheeses with a highly authentic taste, aroma, and structure, as well as excellent ice creams and ice lollies. And, in addition, virtually all are produced using premium ingredients from ecologically-managed agricultural facilities.
So what are the benefits of a plant-based diet? It is healthy, diverse, nutritional, environmentally friendly, easily accessible, highly flavourful, as well as respectful of the other living creatures on our planet.
The world is changing for the better, let’s do it together!
