Veganism Essay

The term vegan, devised in 1944 via Donald Watson, is referred to as an individual that follows veganism, which is the exclusion of all animal products to be consumed, predominantly in their diet (Kahn, 2011). Veganism is primarily supported due to preventing animal cruelty, as well as its health benefits and environmental consequences (Craig, 2009). Adolescence is referred to as the transition from childhood to adulthood, due to biological changes that occur via the onset of puberty (Ellis, 2004). Essential nutrients that are vital to be consumed during adolescence are proteins, which are in the category of macronutrients as they are required in large amounts, as well as calcium and iron, which are categorised as micronutrients, thus being required in smaller amounts (Bialostosky, Wright, Kennedy-Stephenson, McDowell & Johnson, 2002). Protein, calcium and iron are claimed to be essential nutrients in an adolescent female following a vegan diet as they are at higher risk to be lacked via plant-based sources if the consumption of these nutrients are inadequate, which may implicate negative effects on the growth and development during the pubertal growth spurt (Craig, 2009; Ilich-Ernst et al., 1998). This essay will be regarding to a 14 year old female named Jenny Brown, whom is currently following a vegan diet and is not consuming any supplementation in order to obtain adequate nutrition. As Jenny Brown is at the age of adolescence, this essay will discuss the biological changes that occur during puberty, followed on by a discussion on each of the vital nutrients including the macronutrient protein, as well as the micronutrients calcium and iron that are essential to be adequately consumed in order to attain nutritional competence ...

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..., non-heme iron will be the prime source of iron implicated in her diet, which has been discovered to be a less absorbing iron found in plant-based sources than in comparison to heme iron, which is predominantly found in animal products. In order to effectively enhance the absorption of non-heme iron, adequate intake of vitamin C needs to be initiated within her diet. Zinc and iron must not be consumed in excess of each other in order to prevent deficiencies of either due to their counteracting mechanisms; however, it is not a major problem in vegan diets due to its rare incidence. Although Jenny Brown does not initiate supplements in her diet, Jenny can still receive adequate nutritional benefits that are essential for her health by consuming a variety of plant-based sources and following the recommended requirements of nutritional intakes, according to her status.