Understanding the Different Types of Vegetarians
Over time, the influences of society, religion, and culture have resulted in some very diverse lifestyles, an example of which being the different types of vegetarians. Although there are about seven recognized varieties of vegetarians, there are many new and “underground” types cropping up all of the time. In this article, we are going to take a closer look at the top four types of vegetarians and discover exactly what rules dictate each type of diet. We will also take a look at the factors that often drive people to convert to the vegetarian lifestyle.
Pescatarians
Although the name of this diet may not seem familiar to you, the idea or “rules” of it are very widely practiced. Pescatarians are people who do not eat any type of animal except for fish. The majority of this diet includes:
Vegetables
Fruit
Lentils
Beans
A large portion of the people who switch over to this type of diet are those who are concerned about their health, especially if they need to lose weight quickly or if they suffer from a dietary-related health problem.
Some even use this form of diet as a way to “wean” themselves off of meat altogether, easing the transfer from a meat-containing diet over to a full-on vegan diet. Which brings us to the next type of vegetarian diet…
Vegan
Vegans are seen as the strict variety of vegetarian because their dietary options are so greatly limited not only in choice, but in nutrients. (That is, except for fruitarians, or those who eat only fruits.)
Vegans will not eat meat of any kind, nor will they eat any product which comes from an animal, such as eggs and dairy products. True vegans even avoid processed foods which contain gelatin, which is a derivative of animal collagen.
A sub-genre of vegan is “raw vegan”, in which one consumes only vegan-type foods that have not undergone processing. The vegan lifestyle gets the majority of its publicity through people who refuse to eat animals based on the belief that it is inhumane to end the lives of animals on the basis of dietary consumption.
Many teenagers are sympathetic to this belief; however, the vegan lifestyle is not for everyone. In fact, many teenagers end up suffering from malnourishment issues because they fail to obtain the protein, fat, and carbohydrates they need in order to grow.
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian
The lacto-ovo vegetarian is by far the most common type of vegetarian diet around. This type of diet is still high in vegetables and fruit and cuts out all meats; however, it does allow for the consumption of eggs and dairy products.
Lacto-ovo vegetarians are less likely to struggle with health issues stemming from lack of balanced nutrition due to the fat and proteins they are able to receive from milk and eggs.
Unlike the vegan diet, the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet offers much more variety in the diet which makes it easier for a wide range of people to follow.
Flexitarian
Of all the types of vegetarians around, the flexitarian diet is by far the most versatile and lenient of them all. The basis of the flexitarian diet is to not exclude meat, but rather to limit how much or which types of meat one consumes.
For instance, a flexitarian may only consume poultry meats and certain types of fish because they are extremely lean, in addition to fruits and vegetables. Alternatively, a flexitarian may be open to all types of meat, but limit how many times a week they consume meat products.
Although this type of diet is not truly vegetarian in nature, it has been included in this list because it does impose dietary limitations in regards to meat.
Also, for most flexitarians, this diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, lentils, and beans - as most other vegetarian diets do. Flexitarianism offers many health benefits without sacrificing protein-rich meat altogether. Because of this, virtually anyone can convert to the flexitarian lifestyle.