What's the difference between Vegan and Vegetarian?

San Francisco Vegan Chiropractor Comments:

Just to be clear...I have been a vegan for over 20 years. The program that makes the most sense to me is the McDougall Plan, which is vegan. However...it's not an all or none program...the more you do...the more you gain. I try and stay on the program as much as I can...say 80-90% of the time.

I am also fond of the Dean Ornish Diet which is vegan/vegetarian...it just depends what specific regimen you are following. They are both great.

Anyway, the main difference between vegan and vegetarian is that vegans do not consume any animal products, including dairy...vegetarians do.  Both do not eat any animal flesh. There are even a few sub-categories of vegetarians so it gets a little tricky. Here is the basic breakdown of the vegan/vegetarian categories:

Vegan: Vegan is the strictest category. Vegans do not consume any animal products by animal by-products. I like to say..."If it comes from something that has a face on it...don't eat it".

Vegetarians: Vegetarian is a general term to describe someone that does not eat meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. This category includes the various sub-categories of vegetarians and is not as strict as Vegan.

Semi-Vegetarian: This category describes someone who eats dairy products, chicken and fish...but does not consume other animal flesh.

Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian: These are vegetarians that do not consume meat, poultry, fish, or seafood...but consume milk and eggs. This is the largest group of vegetarians.

Ovo-Vegetarians: These are people that would be vegans if they did not consume eggs.

Lacto-Vegetarians: These are people that would be vegans if they did not consume milk.

People have many reasons for choosing vegan/vegetarian lifestyles. There are health reasons. It's commonly known that animal protein is a primary cause of inflammation, sickness, and disease.

There are animal rights and animal cruelty issues. Check out John Robbins book Diet for a New America.

There are global warming issues as a primary cause of greenhouse gases is livestock production...even more than cars (Livestock, a major threat to environment). 

There are allergies such as lactose intolerance and seafood allergies. 

Personally, I am concerned about all of the above. And...I just like the way I look and feel better when I eat right. There are so many other things to worry about, why make your food choices your #1 enemy...which is what most people do.

But just like anything in life...you can pretty much do what you want...but at the end of the day you have to pay the price for your actions.

Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco.  

Comments

[Andrew]

Dear friend,
 
In order to spread and disseminate the information contained in the latest report from the the World Watch Institute, "the 51% campaign" has been launched by an animal and environmental protection organization.
The organizers wish to inform those attending Copenhagen that 51% of all greenhouse gas emissions are from the livestock sector, it is for this goal that they have created the website www.51percent.org

If you visit the solutions page there are various actions you can take, for example the 2nd solution allows you to send a letter to a number of the EPA officials and environment minister worldwide. You can also add a 51% banner to your blog or website.
 
So in the run up to Copenhagen, please visit www.51percent.org
 
and send a letter to those attending COP15 and spread this website to your friends and Family!