by Jane Allyson

Created on: May 22, 2007   Last Updated: July 27, 2009

Put very simply, the difference between the two is that vegetarians will simply eliminate meat from their diet such as beef, fish poultry or seafood. The Vegan is the strictest of vegetarians and will go on to eliminate any animal product from their diet including eggs and dairy produce.

The vegetarian will have many reasons for choosing not to eat meat. It could be a dietary reason, a moral stance or just an aversion to meat preference wise.

Veganism isn't just a dietary choice it is in fact a strict moral philosophy that Vegans take on as a way of life. They believe that in general animals are not put on this earth to be exploited or killed by man, and that the commercialization of animals is inhuman and shows a lack of respect for animal life.

To this end, Vegans will not use products made from the skin of animals and also products such as fur wool, silk, and down. Some will even avoid honey and yeast. In fact, anything that is derived as a byproduct or function of an animal is avoided totally.

There are various sub categories of vegetarian which are:

- Semi-vegetarian- Who is a person who either doesn't eat meat all the time or just eats chicken or fish or both.
- Ovo-lacto-vegetarian. A person who eats no meat at all but still consumes eggs and dairy produce.
- Ovo-vegetarian- A person who would be Vegan but eats eggs.
- Lacto-vegetarian - This describes someone who is nearly Vegan but still drinks milk.

The Vegan's main drive is the powerful sense of humanity that they hold for animals and all sentient life, and this conviction will sometimes spur them on to become involved in animal activist movements. To them it is important that they speak up for those who are unable to do so for themselves. It is a deep and abiding philosophy of life, and is considered to be the only true vegetarian way of life.

There have been many famous vegans over the centuries including Pythagoras (circa 582-507 B.C.) the Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic. He is also credited with being the "Father of Vegetarianism", Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) the American statesman, inventor and author and Albert Einstein (1879-1955) the German-born American physicist and Nobel Prize Winner.

Such great men had wonderful insight into the benefits that can be experienced from keeping a more natural lifestyle that not only included a healthy diet but also the emotional well being that contributed greatly to spiritual fulfillment too.

Learn more about this author, Jane Allyson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.