Plant-Based vs. Vegan Diets

Plant-Based vs. Vegan Diets

A balanced diet filled with nutrients to fuel your body is the main component of healthy eating. As we learn more about the effects of meat-based protein on our cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and long-term cardiovascular health, consumer preferences have started to shift, with people consuming more plant-based proteins. People can easily get confused about the difference between a plant-based and vegan diet. While both have great health benefits, vegan and plant-based are not interchangeable.

Plant-based dieting seems to be the obvious first choice for someone looking to reduce or remove meat from their diet. It is predominantly whole-food plants that are very minimally processed if ever processed at all. This also means substitutes or processed “meatless” alternatives are very rare in plant-based diets. This particular diet has seen a jump in food trends. According to a Neilsen Data Report, over $3.3 billion was spent on plant-based food in 2018.

For some, a vegan diet is a lifestyle based on environmental and ethical reasons in…