The main difference between vegan and vegetarian is that a vegan person does not consume animal products, but some vegetarians do. It can be said that veganism is a lifestyle, which includes ethics, beliefs and political ideas in defense of the environment.
Vegetarians do not consume animal products or products produced by animals, including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, honey or jam. They eat grains, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables and seeds.
Rather, a vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, fish or chicken. If they don’t eat meat for health reasons, they are known as nutritional vegetarians. Those who avoid meat in deference to the environment and animals are called “ethical vegetarians”. The term “lacto-ovo-vegetarian” is used for those who eat milk and eggs.
Anyone who doesn’t eat meat is considered a vegetarian, including vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and lacto-ovo vegetarians. A vegetarian diet is sometimes called a meatless diet.
Vegetarians do not eat animal meat. While some people may use the terms “fish vegetarian” to refer to someone who eats fish or “chicken vegetarian” to someone who eats chicken, they are not vegetarian types.
Likewise, a “flexitivist”, someone who chooses to eat vegetarian at some times but eats meat at other times, is not a vegetarian.
Main differences between vegans and vegetarians
The definition line is quite clear, but often confused by companies that sell food products, gourmet and chefs. Like vegans, vegetarians do not eat meat from animals, such as: chicken, pork, beef or marine animals, among others.
1- Vegetarians can consume products of animal origin
In addition to not consuming animal meat, a vegan does not eat eggs, dairy or any other product derived from an animal. Vegetarians, on the other hand, tend to eat eggs and dairy products such as milk and butter.
Vegans also avoid using products that have been tested on animals, such as makeup and skin creams, or products made from animal skins, such as leather belts and shoes.
But vegetarians tend to be a little more forgiving when it comes to using animal products.
2- The concept of vegan is clearer than that of vegetarian
When it comes to being a vegetarian, the definition isn’t always clear. You can find vegetarians who don’t eat dairy but eat eggs, or vegetarians who don’t eat eggs or dairy but wear a leather belt.
Veganism, however, is clearly defined: do not eat animal meat, do not use products tested on animals or products derived from animals; therefore, veganism is more than a diet.
While the word “vegan” can refer to a cookie or a restaurant, and it just means no animal products, the word has come to mean something different when referring to a person.
A vegan generally rejects animal products for animal rights reasons. You may also be aware of the environment and concerned about your health, but the main reason for following this type of diet is your belief in animal rights.
Veganism is a lifestyle and philosophy that recognizes that animals have a right to be free from human use and exploitation. Veganism is an ethical stance.
Vegetarians also eliminate animal products, but milk can be kept if desired. US News ranked the vegetarian diet as the 11th of the best global diets, eight points ahead of the vegan diet.
It is also in the top 10 healthy diets for heart, diabetes and best plant-based diets.
3- Vegetarian food has several standards
Like vegans, vegetarians eat lots of fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. But unlike vegans, the American Heart Association has said that “there is no single standard for vegetarian eating.”
For example, a lacto-vegetarian eats plant-based foods, cheese, and dairy products, while a lacto-ovo vegetarian (lacto-ovo) eats all of the above and eggs.
There are also semi-vegetarians, or people who don’t eat red meat but eat chicken and fish with plant-based foods, dairy and eggs. Most vegetarians, according to American news, are lacto-ovo.
4- Differences in diet
When it comes to diet, the main differences between vegans and vegetarians are eggs, dairy and honey.
5- Veganism goes beyond diet
As veganism tries to recognize the rights of animals, it’s not just about food. Vegans also avoid silk, wool, leather and suede in their clothing.
Vegans also boycott companies that test animals and do not buy cosmetics or personal care products that contain lanolin, carmine, honey and other animal products. Zoos, rodeos, greyhounds, horse races and animal circuses are also outside due to the oppression of animals.
In the case of vegetarians, most of the time, it is just a diet, not the consumption of animal meat of any kind, but not an ethical position that leads them not to use products such as perfumes or cosmetics that are tested on animals.
Vegetarianism, veganism and health
Some people follow an animal-free (or nearly so) diet for health reasons, including former US President Bill Clinton. In such cases, it is often said that the person follows a plant-based diet.
Some also use the term “strict vegetarian” to describe someone who doesn’t eat animal products but may use animal products in other parts of their life. This term is problematic because it implies that lacto-ovo vegetarians are not “strict” vegetarians.
Vegetarians have been hailed as the healthiest eaters. A study published in the American Heart Association meeting report found that people who adhered primarily to a pro-vegetarian diet (70% of food intake comes from plants) were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.
Other research has linked this particular diet to a reduced risk for certain cancers, high blood pressure, and early death. Again, like vegans, sticking to a plant-based diet is beneficial for the environment.
“Food-eating greenhouse gas emissions in meat eaters are approximately twice as high as those in vegans,” said researchers from the Oxford Martin Program on the Future of Food and the British Heart Foundation Centre. Reductions in meat consumption would lead to reductions in dietary greenhouse gas emissions.
The researchers added that 70% of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed in Latin America to make more space for cattle ranching.
As per the dictionary definition, vegetarians are those who do not eat meat of any kind, but do eat dairy products and eggs. Vegans, on the other hand, do not consume animal products, regardless of form.
Both groups are admirable because they have made changes in their lives that actually leave them feeling healthier, happier, and allow them to live longer lives. Vegans lots of grains, fruits, vegetables and beans.
All vegan foods are low in fat and contain little or no cholesterol. They are also rich in fiber. Vegans may have the ability to create a meal that provides them with all the nutrients they need without using any animal products at all.
On the other side of the food chain, however, vegetarians eat products from the plant family, with or without the use of dairy products and eggs. However, they do not eat any other part of the animal.
Vegans can eat any food that is not of animal origin, usually found in the products section for specialized diets, such as those for celiacs or those allergic to lactose. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains that are less harmful, and other permissible products like maple syrup, for example.
