What is the difference between vegan and plant-based? If you're asking yourself this question, you've come to the right place! Veganism is an often discussed, emotional and, for many people, really confusing topic.
The confusion increases immeasurably, especially when the fact comes up that Veganism and a plant-based diet are not the same thing. But whether vegan, plant-based or plant-based, what exactly is the difference? Time to provide some clarity.
In this article, I would like to give you a compact definition of these terms and then show you exactly how they differ! Let's go!
What does vegan mean?
Vegans do not want to be responsible for the fact that Animals tortured and killed. Therefore completely refrain from consuming animal-based foods, foods with animal ingredients and products and services for which animals have been tortured or killed. These include, for example, cow's milk, meat, eggs or honey - and also Fur and leather, visits to the zoo and cosmetics with Animal testing.
In order to better understand the difference between vegan and plant-based, we should definitely also take a look at the decisive motives look at. These three overarching reasons are crucial for vegans:
- Ethics: Vegans do not want to participate in the exploitation of animals for food, entertainment, clothing or animal testing. They also do not want Starving people for their own way of life must. The animals bred for our personal benefit in the Factory Farming however, require extreme amounts of plant-based animal feed.
- Environment: That animal husbandry contributes significantly to the Environmental problems of our time is also a reason for many people to go vegan. The plant-based diet in particular has a positive effect on the Deforestation of the rainforests and the Climate Change against.
- Health: Also, because animal-based foods are a major cause of today's diseases of civilization As vegans are partly responsible for diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, they eat a completely plant-based diet.
Being vegan is therefore a way of life for which the Ethics definitely plays the biggest role. However, it is supplemented by ecological and health motives. But anyone who was once vegan for deeply ethical reasons will probably remain so forever.
In the article "Why live vegan?"I have explained all the reasons again in detail.
General definition: Veganism is an attitude, lifestyle and diet derived from vegetarianism. Vegan people either avoid all foods of animal origin or they generally reject the utilization of animal products and the exploitation of animals.1
What does (purely) plant-based mean?
Terms such as "plantbased", "plant-based", "plant-based" or "purely plant-based" are generally used for Description of a plant-based diet.
They are also often used in scientific studies, as moral values do not play a role there. However, the terms are not legally defined, which is why they Both a purely plant-based diet and a predominantly plant-based diet describe. They also identify products that do not contain any animal ingredients or components.
However, a "plant-based diet" often refers primarily to the balanced consumption of plant-based foods. The The focus here is definitely on healtheven if ethics and environmental protection also play a role for many people who eat a purely plant-based diet.
General definition: A plant-based diet consists to a large extent of foods of plant origin. It is not defined how high this proportion should be as a minimum. [...] A plant-based diet consists to a large extent of foods of plant origin. It is not defined how high this proportion should be as a minimum.2
-
Cookbook Vegan cliché goodbye!20 € -
Eat animals13 € -
Vegan is nonsense!24 €
So what's the difference between vegan and plant-based?
As a rule, vegan and plant-based both mean a plant-based diet without animal foods. The However, veganism goes beyond nutritionwhich is why the terms "veganism" and "plant-based diet" are not the same thing.
Vegans live as animal-free as practically possible for ethical reasons - and eat a completely plant-based diet. In addition to food, this also includes cosmetics, clothing and visits to the zoo. As one's own values are decisive, it is the So being vegan is a life choice.
People who eat a plant-based diet eat exclusively or sometimes only predominantly plant-based food. The motives for a plant-based diet are generally more to do with health aspects. Their own health is at the forefront - animal rights can also be only a subordinate motive or even none at all. So eating plant-based is primarily a nutritional decision.
The biggest difference between vegan and plant-based therefore lies in the personal motives. Veganism is a way of life, while the pure consumption of plant-based foods is a form of nutrition. However, eating a plant-based diet is one of many important acts of vegan lifestyle.
Something even more tangible: When a person says "I tried vegan for a week"she usually means a plant-based diet. Veganism, on the other hand, is not something you try out briefly - you are either for or against the exploitation of animals - and you either participate in it or not.
What things can be plant-based but still not vegan?
There are some everyday products that completely plant-based in their components, but are still not vegan. Here are a few examples:
- Wines clarified with fish bladder. Although they are purely plant-based, animal ingredients were used in their production. (You can find more information and recommended vegan wines at "Is wine vegan?")
- Refined sugarfiltered with animal charcoal or burnt animal parts. Fortunately, sugar is not produced in this way in Germany.
- Care products or medication without animal ingredients, but which have been tested on animals. Due to the animal testing, the products are therefore "only" plant-based, but not vegan.
- CondomsThe milk protein casein was used to process the raw rubber during production. Even if no casein residues can be detected later, animal components were used for the production. (vegan condoms are available here*)
Know and use the difference between vegan and plantbased
Some people have a negative image of vegans. Often even without having tried a vegan diet and sometimes without knowing a single vegan personally.
Any Vegan prejudices lead to the fact that they then switch off immediately as soon as they hear the word "vegan" - even if they actually agree with veganism's core values of not harming animals for their own lifestyle.
Sometimes I prefer to say "plant-based" myselfwhen I sense that someone has such a pre-programmed negative image of veganism. This makes it much easier and more objective to start the conversation.
"The world is not an inferior product, and animals are not a fabrication for our use."
Arthur Schopenhauer (more at Animal Welfare Quotes)
I wish I could explain to you why vegan and plant-based are not the same thing - and how they differ. Do you have any questions or suggestions about the difference between vegan and plant-based? Then just write me a comment.
Stay animal-friendly, healthy and sustainable,
PS: Would you like to eat vegan but don't know where to start? Then my absolute recommendation is the Online course "Going vegan made easy" from ISSHAPPY*. Just give it a try!
