Veganism and Vegetarianism are two popular diets people find a little confusing and tend to mix up, however, there are surprising differences between vegan and vegetarian diets. In today’s blog post, we will highlight the similarities and list 2 surprising differences between vegan and vegetarian diets.
A major similarity between these two diets is that neither vegans nor vegetarians eat meat. However, vegetarians tend to consume dairy products and eggs, while vegans avoid do not consume eggs, milk, honey, or any food that is derived from animals, and often inedible animal-based products, such as leather, wool, and silk.
Some Vegetarians do consume dairy and/or eggs, particularly as there are several variations of vegetarianism. Also, there are some equally common diets often mistaken for vegetarian diets. They include:
- Pescatarian Diet: This diet is largely plant-based. However, it does not meet the traditional definition of vegetarianism. Pescatarians avoid all meats except fish and other types of seafood. They may or may not consume eggs and dairy products, and are referred to as being semi-vegetarian or flexitarian.
- Flexitarian: A flexitarian diet occasionally allows for the consumption of meat and other animal products but is predominantly vegetarian. It’s a diet that provides flexibility for people who like to eat plant-based foods but are reluctant to give up meat completely.
- Pesco-pollo vegetarian: A pesco-pollo vegetarian diet is also a plant-based diet but incorporates fish and chicken, just not red meat.
2 Unique and Surprising Differences between Vegan and Vegetarian Diets?
1. Differences in Diet Components
Both Veganism and Vegetarianism consume a diet that excludes meat (including game, slaughtered animals, poultry, fish, and other sea animals). However, vegetarianism is generally less restrictive than veganism. Additionally, both vegan and vegetarian diets offer health benefits to those who will like to lower cholesterol or sugar levels.
Vegetarians typically consume a more balanced intake of nutrients which consist of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, pulses, and diary. There are also several types of vegetarian diets. These include:
- Ovo-vegetarians: People who are ovo-vegetarians don’t consume any meat, fish, or dairy products but eat eggs.
- Lacto-vegetarians: Individuals on this diet usually consume diary products but do not eat any form of meat, fish, or eggs.
- Lacto-ovo-vegetarians: These set of vegetarians avoid all sorts of meat and fish yet consume eggs and dairy products.
2. Surprising Differences between Vegan and Vegetarian: Ethics and Lifestyle
Although vegetarianism and veganism are commonly practiced, people practice them for various purposes such as ethics, morals, health benefits, religion, or even environmentalism. Several types of vegetarians exist, but being vegan is a lifestyle that goes beyond your diet choices.
In terms of ethics, vegetarians do not eat any kind of meat and are opposed to killing animals for food. However, they normally consider it suitable to consume animal by-products such as milk and eggs, if the animals are kept in adequate conditions.
Veganism is a lifestyle that believes animals have a right to be free from human use, whether it’s for food, clothing, science, or any other purpose. Its adherents seek to avoid causing harm to animals in any way, including through products used or purchased. As a result, they seek to exclude the use of animals and animal by-products, irrespective of the conditions in which animals are housed or bred.
This is a major reason why vegans choose to forgo dairy and eggs — which many vegetarians have no problem adding to their diets. This desire to avoid all forms of animal exploitation is another surprising difference between vegans and vegetarians.
SUMMARY
In conclusion, both vegetarians and vegans do not eat any form of animal flesh, be it meat, poultry or fish. This makes it confusing for many people as they easily mix them up. Nevertheless, there are subtle differences that distinguish them, as explained above.
Both types of diets may provide certain health benefits for those battling certain health conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol levels. Vegans may suffer from calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D deficiency as they avoid dairy products. You need to ensure you eat a wide variety of foods to obtain the necessary energy, nutrients, and vitamins your body needs.
Remember, before switching to any type of diet, please check with your doctor or healthcare professional. They are in the best position to determine if you have a deficiency or perhaps a health condition (based on your medical history) that could contraindicate starting a vegan or vegetarian diet.
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