The practice of eating a healthy diet is becoming increasingly popular in order to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, high cholesterol, and stroke.

One of the most popular diets is the plant-based diet, which consists primarily of vegetables and minimally processed foods. So, what is the distinction between a plant-based and vegan diet?

Differences between plant-based diet and vegan

People have developed an interest in healthy living over the last few decades, with one of the goals being to consume less meat and processed foods. This diet is known as the vegan diet. It has evolved into a lifestyle that excludes not only animal-based foods like meat, eggs, and honey but also animal-based materials like animal skins.

The vegan lifestyle is based not only on the health risks of eating processed meats high in unhealthy fats but also on ethics, welfare, and the negative impact of modern farming of animals on the environment.

As civilization and lifestyles evolve, the term "plant-based diet" becomes more common. This term refers to a diet that prioritizes the consumption of plant-based products. This term is frequently confused with vegan, vegetarian, and other diets that emphasize the consumption of vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

To make it easier to understand both, experts distinguish between plant-based diets and vegans using the following definitions:

Plant-based diet

The term plant-based diet refers to all plant-based diets. Plant-based diets may include the following:

• Mediterranean diet
• Pesco vegetarian
• Flexitarian
• Ovo vegetarian
• Lacto ovo vegetarian
• Lacto vegetarian
• Vegan
• Vegetarian

People who follow a plant-based diet generally do so for health reasons, such as lowering their risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and stroke. Vegans who do not consume any animal products follow a plant-based diet.

Vegan

Veganism is a way of life, as opposed to a plant-based diet.

Vegans not only avoid eating animal proteins like fish, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey, but they also avoid using animal-derived products.Vegans avoid the following animal products:

• Animal-derived food additives and ingredients, including gelatin and beeswax
• Clothing made from animal skins, including leather, suede, fur, silk, and wool
• Animal-related entertainment products like zoos, circuses, and aquariums.
• Animal-tested cosmetic products or ingredients

Which is healthier: a plant-based or a vegan diet?

Experts say it's difficult to determine which lifestyle is healthier, a plant-based diet or a vegan lifestyle.

This is because, while vegans generally adhere to the same ethical principles, their diets may vary.

Some vegans prefer to eat whole foods and avoid processed foods, while others may consume processed foods such as packaged tomato sauce, vegan nuggets, and sausage. Mediterranean dieters, on the other hand, may be healthier because they eat vegetables, whole grains, and legumes instead of processed foods.

A plant-based diet is a dietary concept that prioritizes plant-based products while minimizing processed foods, whereas veganism encompasses not only a diet high in vegetables and fruits but also daily lifestyle choices such as clothing and entertainment.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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