Trendy Part of Modern Society: Pros and Cons of Vegan Diet During Pregnancy

From a medical standpoint, there is no evidence whether veganism during pregnancy is good or bad for one's health, Professor Ebert said.

"There is no indication that veganism during pregnancy has particular advantages. At the same time, there are only few indications that vegan mothers give birth to babies with a much lower weight. Based on data of the newest studies, it can be concluded that this controversy ends in a "tied score."

Whether it is a diet that includes meat, vegetarianism or veganism, everything depends on proper nutrition during pregnancy, Prof. Dr. Ebert told Sputnik in an interview.

"A vegan diet during pregnancy is a very trendy part of our modern society. You can basically say that a vegan diet has no negative effects on pregnant women and pregnancy, if approached sensibly."

According to the expert, the opinion according to which women need to "eat for two," is obsolete. At the same time, he noted that the recommended amount of 300 calories per day is difficult to reach during a vegan-only pregnancy.

"Negative phenomena appear relatively quickly, if women do not receive vitamin B12. Some vitamins are often of animal origin. The same applies to the fatty acid omega-3. In addition, it is necessary to increase the proportion of fats and proteins during pregnancy. As soon as the exponential growth begins, it is a high time for proteins. "

"Therefore, I recommend vegan women to eat pulses, lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas, nuts and soy products," the expert said.

"In addition, many women in early pregnancy face mild anemia. This can be compensated by using the preparations containing iron. Deciduous plants may give a great effect as it contains vitamin C," he explained, adding that lactation period complies with the same rules.

In discussions about the pros and cons of a vegan pregnancy, the scientist sees significant parallels with the malnutrition of pregnant women during the war. At the end of the World War II in Germany, everything was in short supply. So, many women and children had no choice but to eat only plants and fruits from the ground.

"In winter, during the war, people were eating nettle or potatoes; there was no meat, no fat. Babies in the womb did not suffer from this. There are studies showing that newborn weight at that time was not significantly lower than, for example, in the 1950s," the expert noted.