There are a few types of vegetarian diets to consider if you are thinking of excluding meat and animal products from your diet. Your nutritional needs, weight loss goals, disease treatment and prevention targets or moral reasons can help determine which diet is suitable for you. The American Dietetic Association recommends this diet for any age and lifestyle a person has from baby to adult athlete to a senior.
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian
A Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet is the standard vegetarian diet that includes all foods except for meat, poultry and fish. As opposed to other types of vegetarian diets, it does include dairy and eggs. This diet is the least restrictive vegetarian diet. If your goal is to have a healthier heart, a lacto-vegetarian diet is a healthier alternative to a meat diet as stated by the American Dietetic Association, but stricter vegetarian diets may be preferred, as this diet contains saturated fats from dairy products and cholesterol from eggs.
Ovo-Vegetarian
The ovo-vegetarian diet avoids eating dairy in addition to skipping meat, poultry and fish. "Ovo" is Latin for egg, which is the animal product allowed in this diet. Ovo-vegetarians are usually lactose-intolerant, have concerns of the treatment of cows or have environmental reasons. Others believe that it is unhealthy to consume the product of another animal that was meant to nourish their babies, not human bodies. You can decrease the amount of saturated fat you intake if you follow this diet, which is beneficial for your heart health. According to the American Heart Association, you should limit your consumption of saturated fats to 7 percent of your total daily caloric intake to prevent heart disease. Ovo-vegetarian food ideas are to consume almond or soy-based dairy that is enriched with calcium and vitamin D.
Lacto-vegetarian
If you eat a diet that excludes meat, poultry, fish and eggs, you are a lacto-vegetarian. "Lacto" is Latin for dairy, which is included in the diet. The inclusion of dairy is what separates this diet from a vegan diet, which excludes all animal products. Cholesterol comes from animal products. Because this diet does not include eggs, it will have a lower amount of cholesterol, which prevents heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, most people should consume less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day. If you already have coronary heart disease or you have a high count of low-density hypoprotein, or LDL, which is the so-called "bad cholesterol," you should eat less than 200 mg daily. If you elect to follow this diet, substitute tofu for eggs in meals such as scrambled eggs and egg salad.
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