Vegan Vs. Vegetarian Diet

A vegan is a vegetarian who adheres to a strict philosophy of not consuming or using animal products including leather, wool, silk and honey. Vegetarians eat a largely plant-based diet but many also occasionally eat eggs and dairy.

History

The vegan movement began in England in 1944 by Donald Watson and Elsie Shrigley with the creation of the Vegan Society. They emphasized not consuming dairy or any other animal products because they considered the use of animals for food to be inhumane.

The origins of the vegetarian philosophy can be traced back to the Eastern religious traditions of Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Significance

Both vegans and vegetarians agree that killing animals for food is inhumane. Both agree that the vegetarian diet is more healthy and sustainable for humans, animals and the earth.

Function

A person can derive all of the nutrition they need from a properly planned vegan or vegetarian diet. There are many resources including books, videos and articles available to guide you in improving your health, vitality, quality of life, and preventing disease by trying a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Considerations

A person considering a plant-based diet would decide how important it is to them that they not consume or use any animal products whatsoever, and become a vegan; or if they simply are looking for a more healthy way of eating, and become a vegetarian.

Potential

The vegan and vegetarian lifestyles are the most sustainable approaches to human nutrition. It takes fewer resources to produce food for humans than it does to produce grain for animals, who then are slaughtered so people can consume meat to obtain the nutrients that are readily available in the grain the animal ate.