Seven types of vegetarians: Which is right for you?

There has been a massive increase in the number of people turning to vegetarian diets over the past year, especially since watching The Game Changers and What the Health on Netflix.

These two documentaries proved to be very convincing to meat-eaters (like me at the time) about the positive effects of following plant-based diets. In fact, I fell prey to the facts shared in the documentaries and followed a plant-based diet for two months thereafter.

It proved tedious and although I did not return to eating meat, I have since decided to follow a vegetarian diet, which includes eggs and dairy.

Eight months later and I am still going strong. My digestive system is thanking me on a daily basis. My digestive tract flows with a lot more ease and more regularly as compared to eight months ago.

I had a few obstacles to overcome and have learnt a lot more about vegetarianism in the past few months. One of the major learnings was the importance of increasing my water intake to help prevent bloating.

I also learnt about the importance of taking supplements, such as vitamin B12, which is found in beef, liver and chicken. Although I now get it from eggs, it is not adequate as eggs are part of my diet only once or twice a week.

That said, I also learnt there are seven different types of vegetarians.

Picture: iStock

1. Vegan

People following a vegan lifestyle do not consume animal products or animal by-products, including red or white meat, fish, dairy or foods with animal-based ingredients.

2. Lacto-vegetarian

People who do not eat meat, fish, fowl, poultry or eggs. They do consume dairy products, therefore can have milk, cheese and yoghurt. They simply avoid eating the animal itself but consume animal products.

3. Ovo-vegetarian

People who do not consume meat, fowl, fish, poultry or dairy products. They do consume eggs and egg-based products.

Picture: iStock

4. Lacto-ovo vegetarian

People following a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet do not consume meat, fowl, fish or poultry. They do consume dairy and eggs. This is where I fall in and where I have been comfortably sitting for the past eight months.

5. Pollotarian

People following a pollotarian diet do not eat meat or fish but they do eat poultry and fowl.

6. Pescatarian

People following a pescatarian diet do not eat meat and poultry. They do consume fish.

Picture: iStock

7. Flexitarian

People following a flexitarian diet consume primarily a plant-based diet but add meat on occasion. Hence the term flexitarian. They are flexible.

Many people decide on following different types of diets due to religion, health or other personal reasons. I have often heard people being judgemental of those following different diets due to their lack of understanding.

I hope this article helps you understand the various types of vegetarian diets. Let’s be inclusive of one another.

Zulu is a qualified biokineticist and co-founder of PopUpGym. Follow her on Instagram: @letshego.zulu; Twitter: @letshegom; Facebook: Letshego Zulu

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