Vegan or plant based- what’s the difference?
Although it’s tricky to get numbers on how many vegans and plant-based eaters there are, the interest in not eating so many animal products is definitely growing.
Google searches for “vegan food near me” experienced a more than 5,000-percent increase in 2021.
The sign-ups for the Veganuary campaign - where people eat vegan for the month of January - hit record highs in 2023, with over 700,000 people signing up from 228 countries and territories.
And average annual growth in global food and beverage launches with vegan and plant-based claims grew 21% and 58% between 2015-2019, respectively.
With more and more people cutting animal products from their diet, a greater number of plant-based products being available and the vegan community expanding rapidly- we take a look at the definitions, where they come from and what they mean.
What is a vegan diet?
The term "vegan" was introduced back in 1944, by English animal rights activist Donald Watson, to describe the concept of eliminating animal products for ethical reasons. It is basically a stricter form of vegetarianism, vegetarians cut out meat, whereas vegans cut out anything from or made by an animal.
According to The Vegan Society the word simply came from the first three and last two letters of "vegetarian."
Veganism is defined as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty from food, clothing, beauty, cleaning and lifestyle products and activities.
A vegan diet excludes obvious foods like meat, poultry, and fish—in addition to animal products like eggs, dairy, and even honey.
Most vegans will also eliminate animal-based products beyond diet—such as leather or fur goods, products that use any animal-derived ingredients for example beeswax or gelatine, or anything that involves animal testing.
Most people who follow the vegan lifestyle are motivated by ethical and environmental reasons. For example, they believe animals are our equals, not food, or they would like to reduce their impact on the planet.
In addition to the animal welfare concerns, many vegans also choose this lifestyle due to the environmental impacts such as factory farming, or the health benefits of eating more plant foods.
That said, it's important to note that not all vegan diets are healthy ones. This is because the diet can focus on simply eliminating animal products causing a greater reliance on processed foods or chemically derived meat substitutes.
In the UK YouGov’s bi-annual survey of 2,000 people it is suggested that 2% of the population were vegan in 2020, and this rose to 3% in 2021.
In the UK alone, there were more than 770 new vegan products launched this January to coincide with the Veganuary campaign. This included offerings from high profile companies like McDonalds, Cadbury, Lindt and Starbucks.
One way to ensure that you have adequate nutrition whilst on a vegan diet is to add one of our superfood juices to your daily routine. Packed with vitamins and nutrients they can help ensure that your body is fully nourished.
What is a plant based diet?
The term "plant-based" was introduced in the 1980s, by T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D.—a researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—to describe a vegetable-based diet that focuses on health rather than ethics.
Campbell used the term ‘plant-based’ to define a low fat, high fibre, vegetable-based diet.
Plant-based diets focus purely on the health benefits of avoiding animal products in your diet rather than the ethical and moral aspects, which are the driving force behind vegan diets.
A plant-based diet could mean a completely vegan-friendly diet, or it could mean a mostly vegan-friendly diet with some meat based products.
There are many variations of a plant based diet for example some refer to themselves as “whole foods plant based” to describe their diet as being made up of mostly whole plant foods that are raw or minimally processed
Someone on a whole foods, plant-based diet will also avoid oils and processed grains, whereas these foods may be consumed on a vegan or otherwise plant-based diet.
Research has shown that 50.8% of Brits who eat meat are willing to replace at least some of their meat consumption with like-for-like plant-based meat substitutes.
With these types of figures plant based eating is here to stay. All of our juices are vegan and gluten free, meaning that everyone can enjoy their high nutrient and vitamin content. Order yours today to see just how good they can make you feel.
Conclusion
The main distinction to note between a vegan and a plant-based diet is that a vegan diet is focused on the ethics of not eating any animal products whilst a plant-based product is focused on the health benefits of eating a more plant-based diet.
In a 2021 global survey by NSF, 88% of food industry practitioners said that they expect demand for plant-based products to increase. 74% said they thought consumers choose plant-based for a healthier lifestyle and 60% believed it’s to be more environmentally friendly.
Whether you chose to eat a partially plant based diet or a completely vegan lifestyle, our superfood juices will help support your nutritional needs. With our 110%money back guarantee you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Visit our shop today to order yours.
