A vegetarian diet relies on a lot of plant-based foods.
A vegetarian diet can be an effective way to stay healthy and prevent heart problems. There are three main types of vegetarian diets: vegan, lacto-vegetarian and lacto-ovo vegetarian. All these plans can be healthy options as long as the diet is balanced and meets nutritional needs.
Vegan Diet
A vegan diet is the most restrictive of the main vegetarian diets. A person following a vegan diet will not consume any animal products, including meat, eggs, poultry, fish and dairy. For optimum health, a typical diet should consist of protein, whole grains, fruits, nuts, leafy vegetables and foods generally vitamin-rich. Vegans in particular should make a point to get sufficient quantities of vitamins A, D and B-12.
Lacto-Vegetarian Diet
A lacto-vegetarian diet does not allow for the consumption of meat, eggs, poultry and fish. Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products such as yogurt, butter, milk and cheese--although depending on how strict a person is, some cheeses will not be allowed because they are produced with rennet, an animal enzyme. A typical diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and protein. To avoid high cholesterol, limit your dairy to two servings per day.
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diets
A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet excludes fish, poultry and meat, but allows dairy products as well as eggs. Lacto-ovo vegetarian diets are the least restrictive of all the main vegetarian diets. A typical diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and protein. To avoid high cholesterol, limit your dairy and eggs to two servings per day.
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