Vegetarian vs. Vegan
Vegetarian vs. Vegan According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2009-2010, one third of U.S. adults and almost 17% of youth are considered to be obese. The increase in obesity has more than ever called for a transition into healthier diets. Vegetarian and vegan diets, two of the better-known alternative diets, are becoming increasingly popular choices to counteract obesity in America.
A vegetarian diet is a diet that consists of non-meat products and sometimes the omission of other animal by-products. Many health benefits come from the foods that are reduced or omitted as well as from the foods that are consumed. The similarities in the various kinds of vegetarian diets are the high consumption of fruit, vegetables, soy, nuts, and legumes. Overall, they tend to have a lower intake of saturated fat and cholesterol and the higher intakes of complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, certain minerals, and phytochemicals. Cholesterol is only found in animal foods, so vegetarian diets are completely cholesterol-free. Vegan-vegetarian diets shun all animal products: no meat, no cheese, no eggs, no honey, and no mayonnaise, nothing that has any trace of animal cruelty. A vegan diet is strictly plant based because of a moral aversion to harming animals for human consumption. Vegan dieters object to unnecessary ‘use’ and killing of animals – unnecessary, as we do not need animal products in order to feed or clothe ourselves. Essentially, a vegan diet is a more intensive form of vegetarianism because of the restriction of being completely plant-based. If a person had to choose between a general vegetarian lifestyle and veganism, the extensive health benefits would ultimately be the same. I understand the reasoning for the vegan movement and their determination in support of animal rights, but if vegans choose an already difficult lifestyle, why not go the extra mile and support those farms that promote free-range animal products?
A vegetarian diet is a diet that consists of non-meat products and sometimes the omission of other animal by-products. Many health benefits come from the foods that are reduced or omitted as well as from the foods that are consumed. The similarities in the various kinds of vegetarian diets are the high consumption of fruit, vegetables, soy, nuts, and legumes. Overall, they tend to have a lower intake of saturated fat and cholesterol and the higher intakes of complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, certain minerals, and phytochemicals. Cholesterol is only found in animal foods, so vegetarian diets are completely cholesterol-free. Vegan-vegetarian diets shun all animal products: no meat, no cheese, no eggs, no honey, and no mayonnaise, nothing that has any trace of animal cruelty. A vegan diet is strictly plant based because of a moral aversion to harming animals for human consumption. Vegan dieters object to unnecessary ‘use’ and killing of animals – unnecessary, as we do not need animal products in order to feed or clothe ourselves. Essentially, a vegan diet is a more intensive form of vegetarianism because of the restriction of being completely plant-based. If a person had to choose between a general vegetarian lifestyle and veganism, the extensive health benefits would ultimately be the same. I understand the reasoning for the vegan movement and their determination in support of animal rights, but if vegans choose an already difficult lifestyle, why not go the extra mile and support those farms that promote free-range animal products?