VEGAN cookbook author Marixsa Watson is here to bust some of the common myths surrounding veganism, as we bring to a close what has been a very popular 'Veganuary'.

Everywhere you look these days there seems to be a vegan this or Veganuary that, but what is true and what is false within veganism? I will try and address some of the myths, but regrettably, I will not get to all of them now.

I’ll start with the billion-dollar supplement industry. This is not just in America but in Europe and for the moment this includes the U.K., which on its own is in the 100-millions. Walk into any Boots, Sainsbury’s or shops like Holland & Barrett and you will find aisles of supplements. This includes shelves of protein supplements with whey which are not vegan friendly.

Eating foods that provide the optimum nutritional value like: fruits, pulses, nuts and vegetables along with fortified foods means a vegan lifestyle can supply the body with everything it needs. But what about B12? Sorry to say this but everyone should take B12 not just vegans. This is especially true if you are over 50 years old or have certain conditions that can prevent you from absorbing this important vitamin.

Do I really need to say this? Plants have protein. Here are just a few: corn, broccoli, brussels sprouts and grains such as oats, quinoa, rice and wheat. Then you have nuts and seeds such as: walnuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds and cashews. And if you are still lacking protein why not try legumes: beans (chickpeas, black, kidney and adzuki just to name a few) and lentils, peas, soybeans (no, you will not grow man boobs if you eat them. Try them, they are delicious), all this followed by tofu, tempeh and other products made from any of these.

Vegan athletes? What can I say but, David Haye, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams, Rich Roll and Novak Djokovic.

Vegan children. Yes, they exist and no, most are not all malnourished. There are bad vegan parents just as there are bad non-vegan parents that make poor food choices. Obesity in children has been called an epidemic. Weight-related illnesses within children, such as type-2 diabetes and asthma are also at a record high. Vegan children tend to eat healthier and therefore if fed properly may lead healthier lifestyles.

Unfortunately, the myths about veganism are too long to fit in one article but I encourage you to visit groups such as the Vegan Society and Viva! where information is in abundance and bust some of those myths for yourself