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Vegetarian, Plant-Based, and Vegan and Diets: What Are the Differences?

MD News Daily - Vegetarian, Plant-Based, and Vegan and Diets: What Are the Differences?
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Espousing a plant-based, vegan or vegetarian diet, in particular, is an approach one might be able to make health benefits over a typical diet of the Americans featuring a lot more meat.

Even though many people have evolved to eat a great range of foods, plants may be their best bet in an attempt to eat to achieve good health.

Getting rid of excessive amounts of animal proteins, dairy, as well as other foods taken from animals has been continually presented to provide health benefits.

Espousing a plant-based, vegan or vegetarian diet, in particular, is an approach one might be able to make health benefits over a typical diet of the Americans featuring a lot more meat.

While they have different names, those who are not familiar with any kind of diet think they are just the same. Below is research-based information about each of the diets.

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Vegetarian Diet

A vegetarian diet comes in different types. If you are interested in trying this diet, you may opt for the "lacto-ovo approach," which means turning your back on meat, fish, and poultry, but you still eat eggs and dairy products.

You may also opt to be a Lacto-vegetarian in which you get rid of eggs, or be an ovo-vegetarian in which you avoid dairy.

Specifically, the 2015-20 Dietary Guidelines of the government can help Lacto-Ovo dieters develop a healthy plan.

With this program, you can find out how many meatless calories you need to consume and where you ought to come from to receive all the nutrients your body needs.

For instance, a daily calorie of 2,000 should comprise:

- 2 cups fruit

- 2-1/2 cups vegetable

- 3 cups dairy

- 6 ounce-equivalents grains

- 5-1/2 ounce equivalents protein

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Plant-Based Diet

Doing the plant-based diet means one is using plants to fuel his body, usually, as close to his original source as possible.

This diet comprises whole foods and an ample amount of vegetables. Plant-based diets have won countless followers and a lot of backing from dietitians and medical experts through the years as an undoubtedly healthy option for eating.

However, not all people agree on how a plant-based diet is precisely defined. While some individuals say it can comprise a small amount of food derived from animals, said New Jersey-based author Dianne Wenz.

A certified holistic health coach, Wenz wrote "The Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook." She is also a vegan lifestyle coach and a chef whose specialty includes plant-based dishes.

The holistic health coach added that for a diet to be truly plant-based, it must be "free of any animal products that include meat, eggs, and dairy." In other words, a plant-based diet also refers to an "animal-free-diet."

Vegan Diet 

According to a dietitian, Julie Barrette, from the Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California, a vegan diet is also naturally plant-based. It does not include all foods that come from animals.

"Vegans distinguish themselves," Barrette explained, "by avoiding gelatin products, honey" and abstaining from fur, wool, and leather-made clothing.

They avoid beauty products and toiletries, which have animal substances, not to mention those tested on animals.

For most vegans, this practice is an essential distinction between them and those who occasionally consume meat or otherwise do the plant-based diet, although not strictly vegans.

A lot of vegans choose to avoid the use of any product made from animals since, according to experts, they are in contradiction "to subjugating animals in any way."

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Check out more news and information on Diet Trends and Fasting on MD News Daily.

Sep 30, 2020 09:00 AM EDT

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