Different Types Of Vegan Diets – An Easy Guide
Different Types Of Vegan Diets
As a vegan, you may believe that there are few choices left and that you have discovered the ONE correct diet. You might want to reconsider your position! There are varieties of vegan diets that you aren't even aware of. There are almost as many ways to eat a vegan diet as there are ways to consume a non-vegan diet. Experts disagree on macronutrient ratios, the degree to which meals are processed, whether specific foods should be eliminated entirely, and much more. Please note that people can tweak and change their diets all the time and not all proponents will keep eating after a strict program.
What Is A Vegan Diet?
The word “vegan” can be associated with several vegetarian diets. All of the diets, however, have the same basic dietary concerns, just like the diet of meat-eating human beings. A vegan diet is a type of diet that eliminates all animal products like dairy, eggs and meat, or in other words “meals are plant-based.” This diet is a very popular choice for ethical reasons, health reasons, or environmental reasons. Meat, fish, eggs and milk products do not include soy, grains and legumes. These are still necessary to avoid lactose intolerance, galactose intolerance, celiac disease, or food allergies. If you are lactose intolerant, you might want to try vegan coconut milk.
A vegan diet means that all food is produced or processed without the use of any animal products. This excludes any type of flesh and bones, meat, eggs, dairy and honey products. It doesn't involve the use of animal by-products such as leather or cosmetics and any non-vegan products. Why is it important to choose a vegan diet? There are a couple of main reasons why a vegan diet is a good idea for everyone.
First and foremost, eating a vegan diet offers the maximum benefits of eating a healthy diet. At the same time, you don't consume too many calories or negatively impact your health. Foods that you eat on a vegan diet do not contain any cholesterol, saturated fats, sugars or salt. A vegan diet also helps you lower the risk of many illnesses and has a long list of health benefits.
Difference Between A Vegan Diet And A Regular Diet
People often choose a vegan diet because they feel it's healthy and it's the right thing to do. It makes the transition easier and feels less isolated. The main difference between a vegan and a non-vegan diet is that a vegan diet restricts the consumption of all animal-based products like meat, dairy and eggs. By doing so, the vegan diet excludes foods that provide animal-based protein. However, there are many plant-based proteins you can eat, which are a lot healthier.
Essentially, it’s a diet that excludes all animal-derived products from the human diet, which is higher in protein than the non-vegan diet. If you plan on eating an omnivorous diet, by doing so, your diet will exclude all dairy and eggs. Veganism is essentially a way of life and involves no animal products whatsoever. This diet refers to the avoidance of all animal products, including meat, eggs, dairy products, and honey.
The most important difference between the two diets is the absence of animal products. For non-vegan, this is a diet of convenience and eating habits that they are used to and enjoy. However, for vegans, this is a diet of choice. Not only can it be difficult to eat out, but it is also harder to buy some items at the grocery stores we think of as comfort foods.
For example, because there are no eggs in a vegan diet, breakfast cereals or bacon and eggs are a no-go and meat substitutes are expensive. Therefore, a vegan diet is an in-depth, almost entirely vegan diet that excludes a lot of these simple meals that non-vegans love. There are also differences in foods. Some non-vegan foods are processed so they aren't as bad for you as some vegan foods. For example, vegetable juice is a good source of potassium, and vegan juice is better.
Can Anyone Be A Vegan?
Though some might argue that, ‘No one can eat like a vegan', the answer to this is an emphatic, ‘No'. People can eat like a vegan all they want, they just might not be able to afford to. In the west, we have plenty of sources for quality and affordable vegan foods. So you don't need to go hungry.
Can I live As A Vegan Permanently? Though veganism is certainly an awesome lifestyle choice, there are certain physical and emotional health limitations that need to be addressed. It would not be wise to only try veganism for a few days.
There are not too many health risks associated with prolonged periods of veganism. Compared to the animal-based diet the vegan lifestyle is a lot healthier. So people who try it for a short period of time, often come back to the vegan diet.
Yes, people can actually become vegan for any number of reasons. It is up to them to decide what is right for them. For many people, becoming a vegan is about choosing cruelty-free vegan products and growing and consuming your own food. Some people follow a plant-based diet for health reasons and some people are vegetarian for religious reasons. But many others choose the vegan diet because they want to reject the animal food industry and seek to create a healthier world for everyone. Veganism is much more than food.
Even if you've just omitted a dairy product and don't eat meat, eggs, fish, seafood, or non-organic produce or have a hankering for a taste of cheese, do not let the label of vegan make you think that you are making a promise to yourself or others. It is generally defined as someone who does not eat or use products made with animals.
However, there are several definitions that simply mean that you don't eat foods that have a large concentration of animal-derived products in them. Veganism is a lifestyle choice and not a diet. It can be costly and time-consuming to become vegetarian and vegan if you are not familiar with alternative products, but it's also very liberating.
>>>Click here to read my article on Why You Should Go Vegan<<<
Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet
Veganism is a plant-based diet where there is absolutely no meat, dairy, or eggs. The food you consume consists of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, seeds, and nuts. The whole-food, plant-based diet focuses on eating as close as possible to the whole food to eliminate processed foods, red meat, and animal fats and oils. Whole foods are not only delicious, but they are also nutritious.
It's been said that people can eat a healthy vegan diet without having to be vegan. It's actually easier than ever to eat a vegan diet! Many supermarket chains like Whole Foods offer gluten-free, paleo and grain-free versions of conventional supermarket food. The goal of the Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet is to eat foods with a nutritional value closer to that of a fully functioning animal. This has been endorsed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The USDA website provides much information on the benefits of this diet.
The Starch Solution Program
The starch solution diet is a nutritional plan that is low on starch and high in a variety of fibre-filled vegetables, fruit and nuts. This program claims to allow your body to feel full for a longer period of time and consume fewer carbohydrates, but unlike some of the other vegan diets, it is certainly not a true vegetarian diet. The Starch Solution, written by John McDougall, MD, is a low-fat plant-based diet that focuses on eating potatoes, whole grain products, beans, vegetables, and fruit. The emphasis is on whole foods, no animal products, no oil, no processed foods, and limited sugars.
The Starch Solution is a high-carb, low-fat vegan diet with an emphasis on eating whole, plant-based foods, no oil, no processed foods, and limited sugars. You don't eat any foods that come from animals and focus your meals on starchy foods like whole grains, potatoes, veggies, and fruits. Dr. McDougall's book discusses the healthy benefits of a whole-food, plant-based, high-starch diet, which includes satisfying your appetite, giving you energy, and maintaining a healthy weight. The book also discusses how this diet can help prevent chronic conditions like high cholesterol, heart disease, acne, and type 2 diabetes.
High Fat Raw Vegan Diet (Gourmet Raw)
It seems so radical! The High Fat Raw Vegan diet is full of nuts, nuts, nuts! The only fat you'll consume is different types of nut butter (it's OK to eat healthy fats from a plant source), and if you like, plenty of coconut oil. Nuts are the cornerstone of this diet. You will eat organically-grown fruits and vegetables, whole-wheat bread.
The high-fat raw vegan diet is one of the newest diets for vegans. It is a raw vegan diet that's high in protein, from organic, vegan meats, seafood, and dairy. On this vegan diet, you eat meat and dairy, but only the plant-based versions. The most health benefits of this diet are that this does not need a ton of cooking and that you can eat plenty of it in diverse ways. The main benefit of this is that the risk of constant overheating on a raw vegan diet is nearly nonexistent.
The Nutritarian Diet (Eat To Live)
It is an eating plan based on the idea that once we eliminate all animal foods from our diet, all food changes will happen to become optimal in their nutritional quality. This is not to say that any food is better than any other and some foods are more nutritious than others. These are simply general concepts that are commonly misunderstood. The Nutritarian Diet promotes the maintenance of healthy organs, immune system, bones, muscles, etc. through a very specific balanced plant-based diet and avoids all animal products.
The Eat To Live Diet is based on the general principles of the Food Pyramid. It uses so-called “food types” that are mostly plant-based. Most people do not follow this diet but that doesn’t prevent it from being popular. What you’ll eat and how many meals you should eat is still a matter of debate. The principle behind it is very strong though and it requires consistency. It also advocates making big daily decisions and constantly changing the rules that you follow.
The 80/10/10 Low Fat Raw Vegan Diet (Fruitarianism)
The 80/10/10 version of the diet, also known as the fruitarian diet, restricts animal foods completely. It is often recommended by nutritionists because plant-based foods are high in fibre and thus help control weight. Considered by many to be a raw vegan diet, the protein count and fat content are reduced and vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and seeds are high in fibre.
The 80/10/10 Diet is a low-fat, raw vegan diet developed by Dr. Douglas Graham, a raw foodist, a retired chiropractor and a former athlete. It is also sometimes referred to as 811, 811rv or LFRV (low-fat raw vegan). The diet is based on the idea that the optimal diet should provide at least 80% of calories from carbs, with no more than 10% of calories from protein and 10% from fats.
Unlike many popular diets, the 80/10/10 Diet has no time limit. Instead, it is promoted as a long-term solution to increase longevity and reduce obesity and disease. The rules surrounding the 80/10/10 Diet are relatively simple. People who follow the diet are encouraged to focus on eating raw, low-fat plant foods. The 80/10/10 Diet first and foremost promotes the consumption of low-fat, raw and unprocessed fruit and soft greens.
I read this book a little bit over a year ago. It is the best book I ever came across on a practical application of a raw vegan diet. It includes raw meal suggestions for the four seasons with seasonal fruit and vegetables. Dr. Douglas Graham wrote this book to make it easier to become a raw vegan. You can follow this diet even as an athlete.
The Junk & Convenience Food Vegan Diet
Everyone loves convenience food. If you were a vegan, you would have to make most of your meals in a way that you can’t or don’t want to cook. You might be well satisfied by fast food as opposed to healthful vegan meals. Convenience food is not as much of an issue in the United States as it is in more progressive places like the U.K. In case you're attempting to improve your diet without leaving the house, low-fat vegetarian macaroni and cheese are just as acceptable as high-fat vegan hummus.
If you think that you are going to save a lot of money by adopting a vegan diet you are in for a surprise. Chick-fil-A is now offering a “Chick-fil-A Veggie Lover” that is a mixture of a regular entrée, fried rice, corn, pickled vegetables, iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. That's like going from a meal that includes the fixings of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to one that has the tastes of a meat-and-potatoes meal. You will eat far more than you did before adopting this type of vegan diet. There are a number of these meals that you will find in the freezer and in the cupboard. Save money and calories by turning to one-bowl meals.
This is probably the easiest option for a first-time vegan. You don't have to track your diet and you don't have to think. This is a lot like a point-per-cents eating plan, where you eat healthy for one meal and then consume the following foods for the following meals. I will be vague on the details of how this type of diet is good for people that are new to veganism or have specific medical conditions.
Conclusion
Vegan is the term used for a person who doesn't eat meat, eggs, and dairy products. Some call this a vegetarian, while some refer to it as an omnivore. You may decide to continue consuming eggs, milk, and cheese as well as other products in the same manner. If you enjoy meat, feel free to incorporate it into your vegan diet. All of the nutrients will still be present in other parts of your diet. The best way to stay on track is to find out which foods appeal to your taste buds and health goals.
I trust you enjoyed reading the article on the Different Types Of Vegan Diets. Please stay tuned. There are more blog posts to come very shortly.
JeannetteZ
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Ideas? Thoughts? Questions? I would love to hear from you. Please leave me your questions, experience and remarks about the Different Types Of Vegan Diets in the comments section below? You can also reach me by email at Jeannette@LivingTheVeganLifestyle.org.
It is so easy to cook your own vegan food, and you feel more energetic and lighter as a result. Here are some links to some of my favourite articles:
