Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian Diet

Many people do not fully understand the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian diet. For many, it seems that both are the same; but here we are going to expose them in a different way, in order to clarify the doubts of more than one.

The first thing to know is that vegans and vegetarians are actually two worlds completely separate from each other.

VEGANS

By the definition of the dictionary, vegetarians are those people who do not eat meat of any kind, but do eat dairy products and eggs. On the other hand, vegans do not consume any product of animal origin, no matter the form. The vegan diet is much more rigid and harsh. For many people, the vegan diet does not seem like a very possible thing. Vegans eat a lot of grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. All vegan foods are low in fat and contain little or no cholesterol, plus they are rich in fiber.

Vegans can choose purely plant-based foods that provide them with all the nutrients they need without using any animal products at all. Lesson Number One from a Vegan Diet Foods don’t have to taste good to be good for you.

VEGETARIANS

On the other side of the food chain are vegetarians, they have a diet based on products of plant origin; with or without the consumption of dairy products and eggs; but without eating meat of any kind.

To put it more simply, vegetarians eat almost anything that is not of animal origin and these foods are abundantly available in the markets. Among the main products consumed by vegetarians are fruits, vegetables (this includes the root), whole grains, which are less harmful, and other acceptable products such as maple syrup, for example.

Actually, there are seven different types of vegetarians. Pescatarians, who are those who avoid eating any type of meat with the exception of fish. Although the word by this name are not as well known, more and more people are adopting this type of diet. One of the main reasons for this is due to the health benefits.

Flexitarians, who are those people who mainly follow a vegetarian diet, but sometimes eat meat of any kind. There are also semi-vegetarians, who in addition to vegetable products can also eat a little meat from time to time, but this is usually only chicken or fish.

In addition to the three types of vegetarians mentioned above, there are also lacto-ovo-vegetarians, lacto-vegetarians, ovo-vegetarians, and macrobiotics.

So if you had doubts about the differences between these two diets, surely now they have been clarified. Knowing the difference between each can help you choose the one that suits you best.

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DIET

• The vegan diet is more rigid than the vegetarian one.
• Vegans consume absolutely no meat or its derivatives, while vegetarians can eat animal products such as milk and eggs.
• There are many types of vegetarians, but of vegans there is only one class.