A wholesome diet is decisive for whether a vegan / vegetarian diet works or not. With a purely vegan diet, the biological value of proteins must be taken into account so that there is no deficit. Critical nutrients should be supplied through certain foods that are rich in the respective nutrients.

A plant-based diet also has many advantages: Less cholesterol is consumed, vegans are more likely to have normal weight.

A purely vegan diet is not recommended for risk groups such as pregnant women, breastfeeding women, babies, children and adolescents as well as the elderly.

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Vegan Diet: Critical Nutrients and Consequences of Deficiency

• Protein Breakdown of the body's own proteins, loss of function of intestinal mucosa and immune system, resulting in increased susceptibility to infection and wound healing disorders, growth retardation

• Long-chain n-3 fatty acids: visual disturbances, muscle weakness, tremors and disturbances of surface and depth sensitivity

• Vitamin D: disorder of bone formation, decalcification, softening of the bones (in infants and children: rickets; in adults: osteomalacia, osteoporosis)

• Riboflavin: Symptoms of the skin and mucous membranes: inflammation of the oral mucosa and tongue, tears in the corners of the mouth, scaly eczema, growth disorders, anemia (anemia)

• Vitamin B12: anemia (anemia), permanent damage to the spinal cord, neurological disorders and psychological abnormalities such as poor memory, symptoms of fatigue, attention deficits and depressive moods

• Calcium: short stature, decalcification of the bones, osteoporosis

• Iron, anemia (anemia), impaired physical performance, fatigue, exhaustion, disruption of the body's heat regulation, increased susceptibility to infections

• Iodine: Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter), developmental disorders of the nervous and skeletal system (in infants: cretinism)

• Zinc: decrease in taste sensation, loss of appetite, inflammatory changes in the skin, hair loss, diarrhea, neuropsychic disorders, growth retardation, disruption of reproductive function, delay in wound healing, increased susceptibility to infection

• Selenium: Impairment of the immune system, muscle function and sperm production

(Source DGE, 2016, selected  Questions and Answers too  vegan diet)

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In other countries, a vegan diet is not viewed so critically, it is even recommended for all age groups. How could the different international recommendations for the vegan diet be explained? 

The US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics takes the position that a well-planned vegan diet, including nutritional supplements and fortified foods, can meet all dietary recommendations and is appropriate for all ages, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. Professional societies in other countries (e.g. from Australia, Canada, Portugal) follow this assessment. 
However, there are only a few meaningful studies that can be used to assess the nutritional quality and the safety of a vegan diet, especially for people in sensitive phases of life (pregnant women, breastfeeding women, infants, children, adolescents). Little is known about the nutrient supply of vegan people, especially in Germany, which makes an assessment more difficult and makes corresponding investigations necessary.
In addition, North American studies cannot necessarily be transferred to the German population. In North America, compared to Germany, there are generally significantly more foods fortified with vitamins and minerals on the market. Therefore, the supply of critical nutrients may be easier to implement in these countries. These differences in the availability of fortified foods can explain, among other things, the different assessments of the possible risk of health problems associated with a vegan diet.
Since the risk of nutrient deficiency in the sensitive phases of life is assessed as high, the DGE has decided on the basis of the available data not to recommend a vegan diet for these population groups. (Source DGE, 2016, selected  Questions and Answers too  vegan diet)

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Why is nutritional therapy important?

Nutritional therapy supports you in supplying all of the fatty acids, micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are important to you, energy and protein, so that your body is optimally supplied. For this purpose, foods that promote inflammation are specifically avoided and plenty of anti-inflammatory foods are consumed. You will learn how you can actively counteract inflammation through foods that naturally have antifungal (against fungi), antibacterial (against bacteria), antiviral (against viruses) and antioxidant as well as immune-boosting properties - that is, natural antibiotics.

All your questions regarding vegan / vegetarian nutrition and its practical implementation in your everyday life will be processed in order to ensure sufficient supply.

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Classification of your weight - definition and classification of weight in relation to height.

BMI and interpretation: BMI: body mass index

Formula: Body weight in kg : (body height in m) 2

Underweight: <18.5

Normal weight: 18.5 - 24.9

Overweight = pre-obesity: 25-29.9

Obesity grade I: 30 - 34.9

Obesity grade II: 35-39.9

Obesity grade III:> 40 = per magna

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Waist circumference in cm & interpretation:

Risk of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Complications:

Women (increased risk ≥ 80 cm, significantly increased risk (88 cm)

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Overweight / obese: fat distribution pattern: "apple type" or so-called "pear type"

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Nutritional therapy

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• Holistic therapy - do you have any comorbidities that need to be taken into account during the consultation?

• Energy-efficient, wholesome nutrition, calculating the need for normal weight, defining the need for weight loss

• If you are overweight, you should aim for weight reduction.

• Define the desired weight loss and the estimated time for this

• Calculate protein and energy requirements

• Avoid micronutrient and mineral deficiencies

• Biological value of proteins

• cover critical nutrients

• Avoid protein deficiency through an unbalanced diet, despite being overweight, there may be a protein deficiency!

• Which nutrients do I need in which ratio?

• get enough fiber (> 30 g / day)

• Get enough Omgea-3 fatty acids and essential fatty acids

• which oils are good for me? What should I watch out for in relation to the anti-inflammatory diet?

• How much fat can I use and which products are recommended?

• How can I boost and support my metabolism with natural foods?

• Coordinate sensible meal frequency for your individual case - meal allocation

• what should be considered with drinks, which alcoholic drinks are possible and how often

• How does exercise affect your body and thus also your diet?

• Avoid blood sugar fluctuations

• Sweetening foods - sweeteners, glucose, fructose, sugar and sugar substitutes, what can I use and in what quantities? How high is the respective sweetness of the different products?

• what should be considered when baking and cooking?

• what are cheap snacks / main meals

• Eating out - what should you watch out for?

• Vacation, boat trip or hospital stay, what should be considered?

• Daily plans for weight loss

• Enjoyment training

• Optimizing your eating situation

• long-term maintenance of your lost weight

• anti-inflammatory diets for disease prevention

• Additional therapy options

• Food supplements - under certain circumstances, a supplement can be useful

• Dietetic products in support of nutritional therapy

• and other topics

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Any questions? I look forward to your call or email. To contact form

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Assistance:

• KISS self-help groups

• Self-help network

• (VEBU) Vegetarian Association Germany eV