Talks about what kind of food is useful always cause controversy. There are a lot of types of food today — some diets are associated with ethical beliefs (you shouldn’t kill animals), some with environmental beliefs (livestock harms the planet), some are religious, and some are designed only for the benefit of human health. In this article, we will look at the difference between two of the most popular types of diet nutrition.
What Is a Plant-Based Diet?
A plant-based diet means more consumption of the following foods:
- fruits;
- vegetables;
- legumes;
- nuts;
- seeds.
Even if you increase your consumption of plant products, you can continue to consume animal products, but in smaller quantities. Consumption restrictions on meat do not mean a loss in food quality. All the necessary elements can be obtained from different sources including Delta 9 THC products which also follow the principles of such a diet.
Since the plant-based diet is not a regulated term, it means that if you want to consume animal products, you can decide for yourself. That is why products of animal origin in the plant diet are not prohibited.
For some people, following a plant-based diet with very few sources of animal products is a success. For others, success means consuming mostly plant-based foods but still eating animal products.
What Is a Vegan Diet?
A true vegan diet means the complete elimination of animal products and by-products from your menu. In addition to avoiding dairy products and meat, vegans also choose not to eat animal products such as dairy, eggs, and honey.
What’s the Difference?
There are several important aspects:
- The vegan diet requires a rejection of all foods made from animal products, while a plant-based diet allows their consumption.
- In many cases, veganism implies the absence of animal products in the diet to care for nature and all living beings. Followers of a plant-based diet often intend to improve their physical health.
Benefits of Vegan and Plant-Based Diets
A healthy diet, which emphasizes the use of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and vegetable oils, reduces the concentration in the blood of low-density lipoproteins, which then form atherosclerotic plaques. Additionally, such a diet increases the concentration of high-density lipoproteins in the blood — they take excess cholesterol from the vessels.
It is possible that the restriction of animal-derived foods also plays a certain role in the improvement of the heart and blood vessels. Several studies have shown that eating large amounts of hemoglobin-bound iron, found in red meat, poultry, and seafood increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Also, meat products are cooked with a lot of salt — this contributes to an increase in blood pressure. The lower the pressure, the lower the load on the heart and blood vessels.
Thus, vegan and plant-based diets have a lot in common. In particular, they both are aimed at greater consumption of plant foods. However, the main principle of a vegan diet is the complete rejection of animal products, while a plant-based diet allows their consumption.