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Vegan Menu to Meet the Needs of Astronauts

From GentleWorld.com
March 2023

Astronauts experiencing the physiological stresses of conditions like microgravity and increased cosmic radiation need nutrient-dense foods to offset some of the detrimental health effects of space travel. Turns out that vegan might be the best prescription.

An international team of scientists have developed a "space salad" to keep astronauts well-nourished on future missions into deep space.

The seven ingredients in the salad were chosen for their nutritional value, as well as for their ability to be grown on a spacecraft, using minimal space and water, and producing minimal waste. Made of only soybeans, poppy seeds, barley, kale, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and sweet potatoes, the salad was also designed to take into account “psychological value,” considered especially important on long voyages where astronauts might be faced with lengthy periods of monotony with regard to their food choices. With color, taste, and texture all considered in the salad’s design, one of the taste-testing crew even commented that they “wouldn’t mind eating this all week as an astronaut.”

According to Astronomy.com, nutritional requirements in space are different than on Earth, meaning astronauts on long-duration trips need nutrient-dense foods to offset some of the detrimental health effects of space travel:

"The human body experiences physiological stresses in space, where it’s exposed to unusual conditions like microgravity and increased cosmic radiation for relatively long periods of time. Microgravity, for example, causes bone loss, which means that astronauts require more than the usual amount of nutrients like calcium and vitamin D."

Plant-based diets are increasingly being acknowledged as suitable for individuals with greater nutritional demands than the average, such as athletes, and women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

For those who might be concerned about meeting all their nutritional requirements with just plant foods, rest assured that even the mainstream and conservative Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association, self-described as “the world’s largest organization of nutrition and dietetics practitioners”) confirms that you do not need to eat animal products to maintain your health.

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence and for athletes."

Perhaps soon they’ll add astronauts too.

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We began this archive as a means of assisting our visitors in answering many of their health and diet questions, and in encouraging them to take a pro-active part in their own health. We believe the articles and information contained herein are true, but are not presenting them as advice. We, personally, have found that a whole food vegan diet has helped our own health, and simply wish to share with others the things we have found. Each of us must make our own decisions, for it's our own body. If you have a health problem, see your own physician.