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The difference between a vegetarian and vegan individual and diet can potentially be confusing to those who are unfamiliar with the defining characteristics and general philosophies of each. In the plainest and simplest sense, a vegetarian diet is one which excludes all meat, fish, and poultry products. Both types of vegetarian diets have become much more popular and mainstream than they were in the past. There are a significantly greater number of people today who proudly call themselves vegetarian or vegan.

A lacto-ovo vegetarian is a vegetarian who does not eat any kind of meat, poultry, or seafood, but does consume milk, other dairy products, and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarianism that people choose, especially those new to vegetarianism as a whole.

One reason for this may be that the inclusion of dairy products makes for an easier transition after an individual suddenly gives up meat. Their diets consist primarily of grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, dairy items, eggs, nuts, and seeds.

A vegan, on the other hand, avoids all animal products, though sometimes in varying degrees. Vegan diets include mainly grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Many go even further by abstaining from honey, white granulated sugar, beer, and any other type of food that involves the use of animal products.

Ethically, many vegans also ban the use of any product derived from or tested on animals, such as leather, wool, silk, cosmetics, and household supplies and toiletries. Preferably referred to as a lifestyle over a mere way of eating, vegans often possess strong moral and ethical convictions in relation to their veganism.

Other sub-sections exist within the vegetarian world, such as macrobiotic, which emphasizes grains, seaweeds, and Asian elements. The fruitarian diet focuses on fruits and vegetables that are botanically considered fruits, such as tomatoes, avocadoes, and eggplant.

A raw-foods plan centers around fruits, vegetables, and sprouted beans and grains eaten in the raw state. Lastly, a natural-hygiene diet places importance on either the eating or avoidance of certain food combinations.

Vegetarian and vegan diets are similar in many respects, yet quite different in others. Both, however, stand strong in the belief that meat, fish, and poultry are not to be consumed. Veganism takes this view to what might be construed as a higher level in terms of consumption and ethics, but both tend to prescribe to the ideals of compassion and consciousness as it relates to the animal world.

Learn more about this author, Mary Ann Rudy.
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