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Vegetarian Versus Vegan
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Posted by April Shetrone on May.10, 2010
ⓒ iStockPhoto - kcline
Call me ignorant, but until the other day, I thought that vegetarian and vegan were the same diet. I assumed that vegan was an abbreviation for vegetarian. After some research, I discovered that the two diets have significant differences and that there are a variety of types of vegetarians.
As many people know, vegetarianism is a plant-based diet. Branches of vegetarianism include lacto-ovo vegetarians, lacto-vegetarians, and ovo-vegetarians. The prefix lacto- symbolizes that the diet includes dairy products, while ovo- means that the diet includes eggs. There are also semi-vegetarians and flexitarians. A semi-vegetarian eats a plant-based diet that may include fish and/or poultry. A flexitarian seeks to decrease meat consumption but does not eliminate meat from the diet. The type of meat consumed by the flexitarian depends on the individual.
Vegans, on the other hand, do not consume and/ or use animal products. This includes dairy products, eggs, and honey. Veganism can also extend to lifestyle choices such as cosmetics tested on animals, fur, and leather. Both practices may be adopted for a variety of reasons.
The most popular motives include personal health, environment, and animal cruelty. The extent of vegetarianism depends on personal beliefs and goals. While not everyone ethically opposes eating animal products, some research suggests that vegetarianism can have positive effects on personal health and on the environment.
Because animal products are typically high in saturated fat and cholesterol, a diet that consists mainly of plants may improve health and decrease the risk for certain diseases. It has been suggests that simply eating one vegetarian based meal a week can improve health and promote environmental change. Since diet is a personal decision, it is important to access your personal beliefs, goals, and needs prior to making drastic changes. Excellent resources for more information on vegetarianism and veganism can be found at GoVeg.com and Vegan.org. Both websites offer a variety of resources for those who may be considering a diet change, who wants to learn about the diets, or who may just want a new recipe to test.
Recommended Reading
Easy Meatless Dinners for Beginners
Cool Methods for Vegetarian, Vegan and Raw Lunch Boxes
The Veganization of Our Household
Posted under Food Facts, Food, Nutrition & Recipes.
Article By: April Shetrone
Profile: April Shetrone is an English Major at Rowan University. She believes that the key to change is knowledge, and she wants to educate America on the importance of healthy living and to provide ideas for small lifestyle changes that have large impacts. In addition to healthy living, April strongly believes in protecting the environment and wants to ensure that her children and grandchildren have a safe, beautiful earth to live on and to cherish.
Latest posts by April Shetrone
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