Vegan vs. whole food plant-based: what’s the difference?

While a plant-based diet and veganism might look like the same thing on the surface, there are some notable differences.

Neither veganism nor a plant-based diet includes animal products, and both advocate for ethics, the environment and general health and wellbeing.

Despite having cut out animal products, a vegan diet can still include processed foods and refined sugars. A plant-based diet, on the other hand, only includes foods that come from a whole source, like whole grains (e.g. oats or buckwheat) and naturally occuring sugars found in foods like fruit or honey.

Making the move to a plant-based diet has numerous benefits

1. Invest in your health

Eating a plant-based, whole food diet eradicates unhealthy options and leaves only the good stuff – fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains. Replacing processed foods, refined sugars and refined grains with these healthy alternatives will work wonders for your body.

A plant-based diet can help to relieve the symptoms of chronic pain, reverse fatty liver disease, reduce inflammation and improve gut health. Studies have also shown that with better gut health comes improved mental health. It’s a win-win!

2. Save the animals

Following a plant-based diet saves the lives of thousands of animals both near and far. Did you know that every vegan saves 200 animals a year? Although veganism is born from a love of animals whereas the choice to go plant-based usually stems from health reasons, both significantly reduce the damaging effects of the meat and dairy industries.

These industries, like any other, run on the basis of supply and demand. With less people eating animal products and by-products, demand decreases, and the destruction of wildlife habitats is slowed, endangered species are saved, and animal cruelty is lessened.

3. Join a thriving community

With many making the move to a plant-based diet, there is a growing community of people living, promoting and connecting through this healthier lifestyle.

Joining this community will have you connecting with people you might not have had the chance to meet otherwise. With groups across social media and restaurants specifically catered to plant-based diets, connecting with people will be easy – and delicious!

4. Reduce your carbon footprint

Animal agriculture is a significant contributor to the environment’s decline, negatively impacting climate change, deforestation, water and land use, and waste. Both vegan and whole food plant-based diets reduce the world’s overall energy consumption, carbon emissions and deforestation.

By ‘going green’ and eating only plant-based whole foods, you can help to revitalise and restore the planet to a healthier state. Buy organic wherever possible and if you have the space, grow your own vegetables. The earth will thank you for it.

A plant-based diet isn’t just a diet – it’s a lifestyle

A whole food, plant-based diet is better for the planet, better for the animals, and better for you. From reducing your carbon footprint to saving animals, fighting disease naturally and opening your world up to new people and communities, the benefits of cutting out animal products are endless.

For a positive change that lasts, switch to a whole food, plant-based diet today.

Check out our plant-based recipes