Tag: Vegetarian diets

Over 79 million Americans claim to have followed a vegetarian-inclined diet in 2021, and this umbrella term encompasses a wide variety of eating patterns. While most people are familiar with the term 'vegan', fewer are aware of the even more stringent diets that exist on the plant-based spectrum. Understanding the different levels of dietary restriction is key to navigating the world of vegetarianism.

According to research on dietary preferences, the ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet is the most commonly practiced form of vegetarianism in Western countries. This dietary pattern involves abstaining from all meat, poultry, and fish, while continuing to consume eggs and dairy products. While the core definition is straightforward, understanding the nuances of different vegetarian diets is key to appreciating the variety within plant-based eating.

According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, surveys show that approximately 3-4% of the US adult population identifies as vegetarian, with many of those individuals consuming dairy products. When a vegetarian eats cheese, they are following a specific dietary pattern known as lacto-vegetarianism, which allows for dairy but excludes meat, fish, poultry, and eggs.

According to a 2019 Gallup poll, 5% of people in the United States identify as vegetarian. While the term can be broad, a specific type of vegetarian who eats dairy is known as a lacto-vegetarian, who abstains from meat, poultry, fish, and eggs but includes dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt in their diet. This distinct dietary pattern is often chosen for health, ethical, or religious reasons, offering a middle ground between a traditional omnivorous diet and a stricter vegan one.

According to the National Institutes of Health, lacto-vegetarianism is the term for a diet that includes dairy products but excludes meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. While this is a form of vegetarianism, consuming *only* dairy and no other foods is a different and highly restrictive dietary practice that lacks a specific, formal term, but presents significant health risks. This article will delve into the differences and explain the nutritional considerations.

According to a 2023 study published in *Nutrition Research*, a lacto-vegetarian dietary pattern can protect against postmenopausal osteoporosis. This specialized form of vegetarianism is defined by which vegetarians consume milk but no eggs or meat, and it offers numerous health and ethical benefits.