14 Different types of vegetarians

Many people think of vegetarians as one homogeneous group that just doesnt eat meat. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are different categories of vegetarians as diverse as the reasons for going vegetarian in the first place.

A vegetarian is generally defined as someone who doesnt eat meat. But someone who is vegetarian could conceivably eat dairy products such as milk, eggs and cheese. A lacto ovo vegetarian doesnt eat meat, fish or poultry, but does consume eggs, milk or cheese. A lacto vegetarian consumes milk and cheese products, but doesnt consume eggs.

A vegan is someone who doesnt consume any animal product or by-product, including dairy food. They eat only vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and legumes. They also dont use animal products, such as leather. Vegans also dont use white sugar because its often processed with a substance derived from animal bones that whitens the sugar.

There are other categories within the vegetarian community. Fruitarians, for example, eat only fruit. Their rationale is that fruits, including fruits such as tomatoes, are self-perpetuating and dont need to be planted to create the food source. They consider it a way of eating thats most in balance and harmony with the earth, the most natural.

All of the above will eat cooked vegetables, fruits and legumes. There is also a growing movement towards eating only raw or living foods. This based on the assumption that cooking food processes most of the nutrients out of it, and to get all the nutritional value, vitamins and amino acids from food, its best consumed raw, or juiced. If cooked at all, it should only be cooked to slightly over 100 degrees, so the nutrients are still retained.

The more restrictive you become with your diet, however, the more educated you need to become to be sure youre getting all the necessary proteins and vitamins that you need to maintain good health, especially muscle and heart health.