Things you should know about the different types of vegetarian diets

Vegetarianism is slowly gaining popularity amongst the young and old as more people are making healthier life choices.

Vegetarianism or also known as a plant-based diet can lower your chances of chronic diseases, obesity and even propel your weight loss journey.

Other than the obvious reason of eating healthy, vegetarians have a higher chance of leading quality lives and saving money since they plan their meals to the last detail.

For whatever reason you may be planning to change or start a new diet, here are things you need to know about the different vegetarian diets you could explore:

As the name lacto- suggests, this is a vegetarian (plant-based) diet that includes dairy products. Although lacto-vegetarians are free to have milk, ice cream, yoghurt, cream and butter they are not to indulge in any form meat products like beef, chicken, fish, eggs or pork.

As the name suggests Lacto- ovo vegetarians are similar to the former, lacto vegetarians, only with a twist. Both dieters can eat all milk products, however lacto- ovo vegetarians can eat eggs. Unlike the lacto- vegetarians who cannot eat any meat products including eggs, lacto-ovo have eggs as an option to their diet.

This is a plant-based diet that only incorporates eggs. Meaning the dieters are neither allowed to take any dairy products like milk, cheese and butter nor any form of meat products like fish, beef, pork or chicken. They are only allowed to take egg products including but not limited to cakes, bread or egg rolls.

Like all the other diets that have a twist to them, the pescatarian diet only allows vegetables and fish products. Meaning the dieters can consume all fish products but must avoid all the others like beef, chicken, pork. However, when it comes to taking eggs, this may all depend solely on an individual or their lifestyle choice.

Just as the name suggests, this diet is more flexible that all the other diets. The flexitarian diet mainly focuses on vegetables but does not exclude any meat or dairy products from the diet. Dieters can still have beef, chicken, eggs or milk but with moderation. It is all about getting the most from plants without overindulging in meat products. This diet can work especially if you are trying to lose weight and can’t overcome your cravings.

This might be the toughest diet of them all. This diet does not allow any form of flexibility towards any animal products. Dieters are not supposed to consume any dairy products, beef, chicken, pork, fish, honey or eggs. These diet is against any form of animal torture or abuse and they survive on fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes and nuts. They often need vitamin supplements to boost their mineral and iron levels.