There are many reasons you may want to adopt a vegan diet, but there are two main types:
1. The Standard Vegan Diet is a plant-based diet devoid of meat, eggs, and dairy products (including milk or cheese)
2. The Raw Vegan Diet is 100% vegan and also avoids processed foods such as cooking or baking at high temperatures. Eating raw means consuming uncooked fruits and vegetables that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). This type of diet excludes oils, salt, sugar, alcohol, coffee/tea/chocolate or any other hot beverage. Also, raw foods are usually not seen as a delicacy but rather as medicinal or healing foods.
The Standard Vegan Diet is a balanced diet, and the Raw Vegan Diet is an extreme one.
But the latest research in the nutritional field shows that many people seeking healthy diets can benefit from a switch to veganism or at least from vegetarianism. A few weeks of eating like a vegan can provide significant health benefits and are also positive for the planet.
The Standard Vegan Diet is considered to be the most common diet by U.S. vegans and is the diet that fills most of the vegan cookbooks. This type of diet consists of a variety of plant-based foods that are combined in many different ways to create a well-rounded, healthful eating plan that is similar to that of non-vegan diets.
The Standard Vegan Diet includes most fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, grains and beans with some (truly delicious) guilty pleasures like chocolate or ice cream thrown in for good measure. The Standard Vegan Diet also relies heavily on processed foods such as those found in supermarkets, prepared foods or meals at restaurants like veggie burgers or soy cheese pizza (even though these foods are not part of a vegan diet).
The Standard Vegan Diet may not be the most exciting diet in the world, but it is certainly healthy, nutritious and provides all your essential nutrients.
The Standard Vegan Diet will give you enough calories (although most people consume too much), fiber, vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and active.
The Standard Vegan Diet is low in fat, so it's not recommended for those who don't get adequate protein from other sources or who have a health condition that is very sensitive to fat.
Raw Vegan Diet
Raw vegan diets are extremely healthy and not just for those with a fear of raw foods.
The details of what constitutes a raw diet varies from person to person; however, there are some common characteristics.
You usually eat uncooked fruits and vegetables that are not heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). You also avoid other hot beverages such as coffee/tea/chocolate or any other hot beverage.