What's the difference between vegan and vegetarian diets?

The rise of veganism and vegetarianism

In Britain, vegan and vegetarian diets are growing in popularity and the choice to not eat meat is becoming increasingly easier. In 2021, food delivery service Deliveroo reported a 117% growth in plant-based food orders, and 15,000 UK restaurants added meat-free meals to their standard menus.

What is vegetarianism?

Even though meat-free diets are becoming more mainstream, many people are left confused as to what each diet involves. Clare Thornton-Wood, registered dietitian and British Dietetic Association (BDA) member, explains the difference between vegan and vegetarian diets:

"Vegetarians (also called lacto-ovo vegetarians) avoid eating fish, meat, poultry, insects, or any foods containing ingredients that are made from an animal (such as gelatine, rennet, or animal stock). However, they do consume eggs, milk, honey, and items made from or containing these ingredients."

This is because these types of products come from - but aren't made of - the animal itself. Therefore, they don’t require the animal to die.

What is veganism?

"Vegans avoid all meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and honey," says Thornton-Wood. Vegans follow a completely plant-based diet, not consuming any products that have come from animals.

For example, we all know that milk is not made of cow, but cows are raised on dairy farms for their milk which is harvested from their udders. Likewise, honey is not made from an animal, but it is a substance that bees make.

"In both vegan and vegetarian diets, food labels need to be clearly checked for animal products," Thornton-Wood cautions. "Foods that might be missed include isinglass (used in some wine making and derived from fish bladders), gelatine (in sweets and drinks) and lanolin (used to produce vitamin D3 and often added to fortified foods)."

What are the health benefits of veganism and vegetarianism?

While health is often not the main reason people switch to meat-free diets, there are some promising benefits. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegan and vegetarian diets are "healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases".

They highlight that vegans and vegetarians:

• Are at a lower risk of certain health conditions - this includes heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), certain types of cancer, and obesity.

• Tend to consume less saturated fat (found in a lot of meats like beef, pork, and lamb) - this is linked to higher cholesterol levels which can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart attack.

• Typically eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, and soy products - these foods are low in salt and saturated fat and can help people to manage raised cholesterol.

These plant-based diets may also help some people reach their weight loss goals in a healthy way, particularly those who struggle with being overweight or obese. One study found that vegan and vegetarian diets were more effective for managing weight loss, obesity, and type 2 diabetes when compared to conventional diets.

Do these diets carry any risks?

However, a vegetarian or vegan diet is no guarantee that you are eating healthily. There are many unhealthy non-meat foods which you should limit, and you will need to make sure that you consume a variety of nutrient-rich foods.

One difference between vegan and vegetarian diets is that the latter can include more saturated fats, which should be limited, due to certain animal products - for example, butter, hard cheeses, and cream - having a high content of saturated fats. Vegan sources of saturated fats are more limited, but include coconut milk, coconut oil, and palm oil.

Plant-based diets can also make it harder to meet certain nutritional requirements. For example, the following vitamins and nutrients are slightly more limited in meat-free options:

• Vitamin B12 - supports your health in many ways, including helping to prevent heart disease, improving your memory, and giving you energy.

• Calcium - important for your bone health, heart health, and the health of your other muscles and nerves.

• Iron - needed to produce haemoglobin, a protein that helps your blood carry oxygen around the body.

How to eat healthily on vegan and vegetarian diets

Yet, it is entirely possible to get all the nutrients you need if you choose to eat vegan or vegetarian food. To do this, Thornton-Wood recommends eating a range of foods from all the food groups and basing your intake around fresh ingredients rather than substituting with processed vegetarian/vegan products.

"An 'Eatwell Guide' is now available for both vegetarian and vegan diets," she adds.

"Protein - which plays a key role in the repair and growth of cells and tissues - is not generally an issue with either diet. There are many non-animal protein sources, such as lentils, pulses, nuts, and seeds. It is also found in smaller quantities in foods such as cereals and bread.

"However, some vitamins and minerals require more planning to ensure an adequate intake:"

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Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is commonly found in dairy food and eggs, which means that vegans are more likely to struggle to consume enough. "It is generally advisable for vegans to take a supplement for vitamin B12. Fortified foods such as yeast extract, some breakfast cereals, and fortified plant milks are also good alternative sources," advises Thornton-Wood.

Calcium

Thornton-Wood explains that one of the richest sources of calcium is dairy. This means another difference between vegan and vegetarian is that vegans may find it more difficult to consume enough calcium-rich foods. Tofu is vegan and is often fortified with calcium, but it's important to check the label as this isn't always the case.

Iron

"Iron can be difficult to obtain in a plant-based diet, and non-haemoglobin iron often contains substances such as phytates which makes iron more difficult to absorb," says Thornton-Wood. "Good sources include black treacle, fortified breakfast cereal, nuts, pulses, dried fruit, kale, cabbage, and broccoli."

Omega 3

Omega 3 is an important nutrient for heart health. Fish - especially fatty fish such as fresh tuna, salmon, mackerel and sardines - are an excellent source of omega 3 which pescetarians (who eat fish and vegetarian foods but not meat) can access. For vegetarians, eggs are also a good source. For vegans, Thornton-Wood advises that omega 3 can be obtained through rapeseed oil, chia seeds, ground linseeds, and walnuts.

Iodine

"Iodine is needed for thyroid function and is found in cheese, eggs, and yoghurt for vegetarians. For vegans, alternative plant-based sources of iodine are seaweed and peanuts."

Zinc

"Zinc is needed for cell growth, a healthy immune system, and wound healing. Good plant-based food sources include beans, pulses, hummus, nuts, and seeds."