The fact that a vegan mother in the USA caused the death of her malnourished baby has been the subject of debate recently. The irresponsible mother was sentenced to life imprisonment, but this sad event also caused an information pollution.
In fact, the mother is not the only culprit, the father was also irresponsible and his case is still ongoing. The couple’s 18-month-old baby weighed 8 kg when he died. Despite his age, he was only the size of a 7-month-old baby. The investigative team determined that the vegan couple had two more children, aged 3 and 5, who were also malnourished.
When we look at this incident and read the sloppy news of the populist media, the perception that veganism is harmful is formed. Is this really the case, or does the color change when we look at this type of news from a wider perspective?
Since this issue is often the subject of discussion, we will try to eliminate the question marks in mind.
We asked Berat, one of the Vegan Brain admins operating on Instagram, about the subject in order to eliminate the question marks in the minds after the news in question and to make veganism more understandable by everyone. In addition, Cardiologist Murat Kınıkoğlu, Exp. Dr. We also included the thoughts of Oğuzcan Kınıkoğlu and Dietician Kevser Başkara on vegan nutrition of children in our article.
Before asking our first question to Berat, it is useful to talk about scientific research on the subject:
According to the information in BBC Good Food; It’s okay for a child to be vegan as long as there’s the right planning and knowledge. In order to avoid nutritional deficiencies in early childhood, it is necessary to monitor the intake of vitamin D, calcium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12.
According to a Harvard University study comparing omnivorous children who also eat animal products and children who eat vegan, omnivorous children enter puberty earlier and grow faster, but their heart health is not as good as vegan children.
In a peer-reviewed study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; It was found that vegetarian children had better heart health compared to omnivorous children, but had a slightly higher nutritional deficiency.
Researchers at UCL’s Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Child Memorial Health Institute found that vegan children had a healthier cardiovascular profile and less body fat, but also found that growth, bone mineral content and micronutrient status were affected.
The study found that children on a vegan diet were, on average, 3cm shorter, had 4-6% lower bone mineral content, and were three times more likely to be deficient in vitamin B12 than omnivores. While these disadvantages have their advantages, vegan children have not been shown to have unhealthy cholesterol.
The advice of Professor Mary Fewtrell, who took part in this study, is as follows: We found that vegan children have lower bone mass, even when taking into account their smaller bodies and bone sizes. If such deficiencies are due to a diet that continues into puberty, this may increase the risk of adverse bone outcomes later in life.
In another study conducted at the American academic medical center called the Cleveland Clinic, it was observed that the blood values of children who were fed herbalism improved and their blood pressure reached a good level. Many American and Canadian doctors in the study state that a vegan diet may be good for children.
Judging by the results of this research, children can be vegan as long as necessary supplements are given, and if attention is not paid, various problems may arise.
Our first question to Berat, who has been vegan for 3 years, is as follows: As these scientific studies show, it is a fact that veganism in children has both advantages and disadvantages. Do you think a baby should be vegan, or should he go vegan after his first months?
Berat: As you mentioned, there are pros and cons in the results of this study on children. However, we should consider the foods as a package and act without forgetting that we take the harmful ones while taking the beneficial ones for our body. If we come to what I really want to say about the question without deceiving the word, the lack of intake of some vitamins and minerals, especially B12, is actually a problem of today, due to some consequences of mass production, rather than a vegan problem. In other words, even someone who has never stopped using animal “products” in their life can have a B12 problem.
Today, we know that one of the biggest factors in osteoporosis is phosphate, which our body pulls from the bones while trying to convert the acidity that occurs after the intake of acidic cow’s milk to alkaline. The calcium that comes with acidic food is then excreted through the urine. This is exactly why pharmacies are full of calcium supplements. In other words, the essence of the matter is supplementary food, etc., to complete the deficiencies of your diet. Using it isn’t all that bad.
As the world’s leading health institutions such as the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the UK Dietetic Association say, a well-planned vegan diet can support a healthy life for people of all ages. When nutrient intake is well planned, a well-balanced vegan diet can be enjoyed by children and adults, including during pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, there is no need for anyone to postpone their veganism just because there are some non-fatal reasons.
Don’t you think they should make the decision to go vegan when they grow up?
Berat: No. I’m a vegan, but no one ever asked me if you wanted to be vegan as a kid. This is just like that. Maybe you can’t impose a vegan life on him because it is unethical, but you can make him choose a vegan life because in nature, every parent raises their child the way they believe is right.
Don’t their friends feel left out when they eat milk chocolate? Perhaps there will be negative psychological effects caused by this situation?
Berat: With my apologies, I think my answer to this question can only be based on assumptions because it seems to me that only a pedagogue can answer such a question in a healthy way. But my opinion is that there are many children out there who are not allowed by their parents to eat soda, trans-fat chips and many other products that are considered harmful.
In addition, when we think that every product has a vegan alternative today, we can also think that a child who enjoys the herbal milk chocolate we give to our child from a young age will not be psychologically affected by the aforementioned issue in his inner world.
Do you or the vegan people around you think that their baby will not develop enough?
Berat: I have never felt or heard a feeling of anxiety like this from any of my acquaintances. One cannot maintain a “truth” that one does not believe in. No one around me thinks that a balanced plant-based diet will be incomplete for anyone.
Is the same punishment given when non-vegans cause the death of their baby due to malnutrition? Why aren’t these parents in the news?
Berat: I haven’t come across any news about this subject, but I think parents who do not take care of their babies and meet their basic needs are visited by relevant institutions all over the world and face the necessary sanctions and punishments. But unfortunately, when the parent is vegan, there is a lot of news. Now I don’t know whether you call it a clickbait, the dirty collaboration of the animal “food” industries or the product of the populist media…
Finally, what would you like to add on the subject?
Berat: Every year, this and some similar news are resurfaced over and over again, and moves are made to denigrate anti-veganism and veganism. We are no strangers to these, moves denouncing veganism have always been made with the support of certain industries over the years. As vegans, we now find it helpful for people to thoroughly research the news they read, have an opinion, and reconsider some of the things they think are true.
Because we think that we have been deceived by what we think is right since our childhood. From here, I would like to say to everyone who welcomes vegan life but has certain concerns, that every vegan experiences these concerns at the time, but the window we are afraid to jump is on the ground floor. Remember, every minute you don’t get into the water from the shore makes it more difficult to get into the water. Hoping for a fairer world for every individual, love.
Thanks to Berat for answering our questions. On the subject, Dr. Dr. Opinions of Oğuzcan Kınıkoğlu, Dietitian Kevser Başkara and Cardiologist Murat Kınıkoğlu are as follows:
exp. Dr. Oğuzcan Kınıkoğlu talks about the subject on his website as follows:
We’ve been seeing news in the news lately that “they went to jail for feeding their babies vegan”. We even saw the vegan family who killed their newborn baby because they were malnourished. Unfortunately, irresponsible families who only feed their children with mashed potatoes are paying for veganism.
If the family is conscious, there is never a protein deficiency in vegan-fed children. In one study, vegan-fed children are followed. Babies are breastfed for the first 6 months, and then they are fed vegan. The result: Children on a vegan diet ensure normal growth and development.
What families need to pay attention to is to balance the macro and micro nutrients that their babies need. Breast milk is very important, at least for the first 6 months. It is necessary to make sure that the mother gets enough vitamin B12 and Omega 3 while breastfeeding. As given to every newborn, vitamin D and iron supplements after 6 months can also be used in vegan babies. Studies show that vegan-fed children get more fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
From the interview given by dietician Kevser Başkara to veganlik.org:
Vegan diet is also suitable for children and babies. A baby doesn’t need meat or milk anyway. In fact, the child should not eat meat. The growth factor in meat is very harmful for the child. An obstacle to the balanced growth of the child. By feeding meat, you are preventing the growth of the child.
There is a Harvard study that shows that children fed animal foods enter puberty earlier. This points to a significant amount of growth hormone in animal products. Rapid growth is not a good thing; Humans are fit for gradual growth.
Faster and earlier ossification occurs. So is milk, something that should not be given to a child. The child’s intestines are just beginning to develop. If you start cow’s milk immediately after giving up breast milk, certain micro-bleeds occur in your intestines. Milk is a very allergenic liquid. It’s an incredibly bad picture when you look at the lactose allergies in countries. Because we have a problem with the enzyme that digests lactose.
Cardiologist Murat Kınıkoğlu’s views on the subject are as follows:
Important Note: No matter how you decide to feed your baby, do not neglect to take him to the doctor’s control regularly. Nothing is more important than your baby’s health.
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