Today, a large number of people prefer to opt for a plant-based diet or a vegan diet, rather than diets of animal origin, all in order to improve their diet, health and lifestyle .
It is always interesting to know more about these healthy lifestyles, but for this you must first identify what the differences are between a plant-based diet and a vegan diet. This way you will know which one to choose if you want to make a healthy change to your diet.
Differences between a plant-based diet and a vegan diet
History of veganism
The term "vegan" was created in 1944 by Donald Watson, he was an English defender of animals and at the same time founder of The Vegan Society. He created this term to describe people who avoid the use of animals for ethical reasons .
Veganism was expanded to include a diet that excluded the consumption of foods derived from animals, such as: eggs, meat, fish, poultry, cheese, and other dairy products . A vegan diet includes foods such as: vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
With the passage of time, veganism also became a movement that cared about the environment and health , and not only about ethics and animal welfare.
Thanks to veganism, people have become much more aware of the negative effects of exploiting animals for food and money, as well as the negative effects of consuming a diet rich in animal food.
History of the "plant-based diet"
During the 1980s, Dr. Colin Campbell introduced the term "plant-based diet" to the world of nutritional science. In this way it defines a diet low in fat, rich in fiber and based on plants, which focuses on health and not on the ethics of consuming animals.
For a better example, here is a list of products where you will find if you can consume or use them during a vegan and a plant-based diet , as well as a whole plant-based meal:
- Meat, seafood, eggs and dairy: you should not consume them during a vegan diet, but on a plant-based diet occasionally
- Oils: yes you can consume them during a vegan and vegetarian diet
- Whole grains : if you can consume them during a vegetarian and vegan diet, as well as in a whole plant-based diet.
- Fruits and vegetables : if you can consume them in the three types of diets.
- Legumes: legumes can also be consumed in all diets.
Differences between a vegetable diet and a vegan diet
3.1 What does a plant-based diet mean?
Many people use the term "plant-based" to indicate that they consume a diet that comprises entirely or mainly plant-based foods , although some products derived from animals can also be consumed and purchased in smaller quantities.
Other people use the term " raw vegan" in order to describe their diet as consisting mainly of whole plant foods that are raw or minimally processed (Campbell, 2017).
A person on a diet based on raw plant and whole foods should also avoid consuming processed oils and grains , while these foods can be consumed during a vegan diet.
This is a very important distinction, as there are many processed vegan foods . For example, there are a wide variety of hamburgers, types of cheeses, bacon, and even “chicken” nuggets that are vegan, but are not recommended for a plant-based, whole-food diet.
What does it mean to follow a vegan diet?
Being vegan goes far beyond a simple diet, it also describes the lifestyle that a person chooses to lead on a daily basis. Veganism is about living in a way that avoids consuming, using or exploiting animals as much as realistically possible . The intention is that minimal harm is done to animals through life choices.
In addition to avoiding plant-based foods during their diet, people who describe themselves as “vegan” generally avoid buying items made or tested on animals .
These items include: clothing, personal care products, shoes, accessories, and household items. For some vegans, this also includes avoiding medications or immunizations that use animal by-products or that have been tested on animals.
Can a person be vegan and vegetarian at the same time?
Many people can start out by being vegetarians , avoiding animal products in their diet (mainly for ethical or environmental reasons). But then these people adapt to a diet based solely on plants and whole foods , in order to improve their health, and eliminate animal products completely.
Therefore, you cannot be both things at the same time (since vegetarians only do not eat meat, while vegans do not consume or use any type of animal product), but being vegetarian and being vegan are usually steps within of the same process .
conclusion
Today there are a large number of people who seek to improve their quality of life through a good diet. For them, the meaning of a "good diet" is based on consuming products of plant origin, leaving aside the consumption of foods from animals.
On the one hand, there are vegans, whose diet is based solely on consuming vegetables. But vegans not only focus on food, they also avoid buying animal products, for ethical reasons.
While on the other hand, there are vegetarians, who are those whose diet is based mainly on the consumption of vegetables, but who at the same time can buy certain products from animals .
References
- Alshahrani, S., Fraser, G. and Orlich, M. (2019). Red and Processed Meat and Mortality in a Low Meat Intake Population. Nutrients . doi: 10PMC6470727
- Campbell, C. (2018). Cancer Prevention and Treatment by Wholistic Nutrition. Journal of Nature and Science . doi: 10PMC5646698
- Hever, J. (2016). Plant-Based Diets: A Physician's Guide. The Permanente Journal. doi: 10PMC4991921
- Lauren, P. What's the Difference Between a Plant-Based and Vegan Diet? For Healthline [Revised April 2020].
