Following a plant-based diet and excluding animal-based foods may have benefits for a person’s health and overall well-being and support in the prevention and/or treatment of disease.
There are various Vegetarian diet types, which differ among them based on the types of foods allowed or not for consumption. These include:
Vegans do not consume any animal-based foods or their derivatives (e.g. honey, eggs, and dairy products).
Lacto-ovo-vegetarians follow a diet that completely excludes any type of meat, poultry, fish, and seafood, but they consume animal based derivative products such as honey, dairy, and eggs.
Pescetarians consume fish and seafood, however, exclude from their diets’ meat and poultry as well animal based derivative products such as honey, eggs, and dairy.
Pollo vegetarians eat poultry but not other type of meat, fish, or seafood.
Flexitarians are predominantly feed with plant-based foods. However, from time to time they may consume meat, fish, and poultry as well as animal-based derivatives including dairy, eggs, and seafood in small portions.
A vegetarian or vegan diet is a demanding diet for the body to follow since deficiencies in nutrients may occur due to the exclusion of certain types of foods from consumption.
Whichever group you belong to, a Dietitian – Nutritionist can support you and give you vital guidelines in maintaining good health and overall wellbeing at any age or stage in life. This will be achieved through following the right advice in consuming the appropriate food alternatives and food combinations.
As such a Dietitian – Nutritionist can ensure that you follow a diet which is adequate in vital nutrients for your body and support you in creating a menu of options that suits your lifestyle, nutritional preferences and needs and that is at the same time nutritious and delicious!
