What is the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian? Vegans do not eat meat, fish, poultry or eggs, and they do not use or wear any products that come from animals or are tested on animals, which includes medications and cosmetics. The main reason people decide to live a vegan lifestyle is to be healthy but is a vegan lifestyle healthy?

If you plan ahead, a vegan lifestyle can consist of healthy meals. Countries where the typical American diet is the norm tend to have higher rates of heart attacks, cancer and high blood pressure among their citizens. The American Dietetic Association reported in the late 1990s that a vegan or vegetarian diet will lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer of the colon or lungs.

The food industry uses advertisements that make us believe that we can only get protein from animal products. Actually, we can get the protein our body needs from plant foods including legumes, nuts, and soy products. Fruits and grains are also a good source of protein. It is important to make sure you get enough protein so your body can function properly. Foods like fruits and vegetables, grains and beans have very little fat and no cholesterol but give us fiber and other nutrients our bodies need.

Most vegans get their daily requirements of protein from legumes including beans and peanuts and grains like rice and corn. Lima beans, spinach, broccoli, and soya milk can provide the calcium your body needs. Many vegetables and beans like spinach, pinto beans, and chickpeas have a lot of iron and Vitamin B12.

A healthy vegan lifestyle can allow you to eat a variety of foods. Many vegan diets consist of vegetables, salads, grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes. People who are diabetic and eating a vegan diet need to avoid fruit since the fructose in the fruit can raise their blood sugar to unhealthy levels. People who follow a healthy vegan lifestyle and diet often find that they lose weight, are more energized and see improvements in their skin.

Is a healthy vegan lifestyle hard to maintain? If you are alone in your family with this choice, it may be difficult. The change to a vegan lifestyle can be hard at first so you need realistic expectations and you need to start slowly. Some vegans start by removing meat from their diets and then start to substitute other vegan foods for animal products. There are many vegan options like vegetable burgers, vegetarian pizzas or bean burritos. The following are foods that you can include in a healthy vegan diet:

1. Veggie stir fry
2. Orange juice
3. Almond butter and almond milk
4. Wheat bread
5. Lentil soup
6. Cereals
7. Oatmeal
8. Hummus
9. Falafel
10. Pasta
11. Apples
12. Dates
13. Acai Berry products
14. Guacamole
15. Unrefined popcorn
16. Vegan baked beans
17. Salads
18. Tomatoes
19. Vegetable Burgers
20. Vegetable Pizzas
21. Bean burritos

Fruit smoothies and desserts that contain fruit are popular vegan foods as well but need to be eaten in moderation by diabetic people. Other choices include vegetarian lasagna and vegetarian meats like soy hot dogs.