Plant-Based
Very similar to a vegan diet, individuals who choose to live a plant-based lifestyle avoid meat, dairy, eggs, gelatin and processed foods such as white flour and refined sugar. People who follow this lifestyle eat unprocessed or minimally processed vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds, legumes, beans and whole grains. To break the distinction between plant-based and veganism down a bit further, a vegan can eat Oreos, since in essence they are vegan, however, a person who follows a “plant-based” lifestyle may choose not to eat Oreos because it’s not a product that resembles it’s original plant form. Although a “plant-based” meal may be vegan by definition, a big difference between the two are a person who follows a plant-based diet is not necessarily a vegan which means they may consume only plant-based foods but may still wear or use products that are derived from animals. A plant-based diet can help with diabetes prevention and weight loss, improving heart health and skin health as well.
Vegan
Again, vegan and plant-based are strongly similar, except, being vegan is a philosophy devoted to animal rights that involves diets, ethics and politics. As a vegan, you not only eliminate animal food from your diet, but you also extend the elimination process across all aspects of your life. So, this means a vegan doesn’t use honey or beeswax because it’s derived from insects; any household goods, toiletries or beauty products or wear any type of clothing that derives from animals, such as leather, fur or silk if any of the products are tested on or derived from animals. Being a vegan can help you lose excess weight, lower your risk of heart disease and may protect again certain cancers.
There are different options to help start your journey to living a life that doesn’t include eating land-based animals and plenty of benefits associated with each lifestyle. If you’re interested in starting any of these lifestyles, consult with your doctor and research to determine which option is a better fit for you.