Jeffrey Salazar
Lacto-vegetarianism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs, but includes dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. It is a popular diet among followers of Dharmic religious traditions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, who believe in the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi was a notable lacto-vegetarian. Adopting a lacto-vegetarian diet can have several health benefits, including improved heart health, reduced risk of certain types of cancer, and lower blood pressure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet type | Vegetarian |
| Meat | Excluded |
| Poultry | Excluded |
| Seafood | Excluded |
| Eggs | Excluded |
| Dairy products | Included |
| Health benefits | May improve heart health, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, and lower the risk of certain types of cancer |
| Environmental impact | Reduced |
| Ethical reasons | Yes |
| Religious reasons | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Exclusions: meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs
A lacto-vegetarian diet is a type of vegetarianism that abstains from the consumption of meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. This diet is popular among followers of Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The core belief behind this diet is the law of ahimsa, or non-violence, which values all living beings equally.
The exclusion of meat, poultry, and seafood is based on the understanding that it takes many more vegetables or plants to produce an equal amount of meat, and consuming meat destroys many more lives. By excluding these food groups, lacto-vegetarians aim to minimise suffering and show respect for all living things.
Meat is a broad term that encompasses various types of animal flesh, including beef, pork, lamb, and venison. Poultry refers specifically to the flesh of birds, such as chicken, turkey, and duck. Seafood, on the other hand, includes a wide range of aquatic animals such as fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. By excluding these food groups, lacto-vegetarians avoid contributing to the destruction of animal life and the environmental impact associated with meat production.
Eggs are also excluded in a lacto-vegetarian diet. In India, lacto-vegetarianism is considered synonymous with vegetarianism, and eggs are classified as a meat product. However, in other parts of the world, vegetarianism often refers to ovo-lacto-vegetarianism, which allows the consumption of eggs. Excluding eggs from the diet is based on the belief that eggs are an animal product and consuming them is not aligned with the principle of non-violence.
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Inclusions: dairy products
Dairy products are a key component of a lacto-vegetarian diet. This is a type of vegetarianism that excludes meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs, but includes dairy. The name "lacto" comes from the Latin root "lact-", meaning milk.
Dairy products included in a lacto-vegetarian diet are milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter, ghee, cream, and kefir. Some lacto-vegetarians may also eat honey, although this is not strictly a dairy product. The diet also includes plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans.
Lacto-vegetarians may choose to eat dairy products for nutritional reasons, as dairy is a good source of protein and amino acids. Dairy products can also provide other essential nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins. However, some lacto-vegetarians may choose to limit their consumption of dairy products due to ethical concerns about the dairy industry or the environmental impact of dairy farming.
Some people who follow Dharmic religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, may adopt a lacto-vegetarian diet for religious reasons. The core of their beliefs is often the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence, which values all living beings equally. In India, vegetarianism is generally understood to be lacto-vegetarianism, and eggs are considered a non-vegetarian food. However, in Western countries, vegetarianism often includes eggs in the diet, which is known as lacto-ovo-vegetarianism.
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Religious reasons
Lacto-vegetarianism is a diet that abstains from the consumption of meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs, while still consuming dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter, ghee, cream, and kefir, as well as honey. This type of diet is popular among followers of Dharmic religious traditions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
The core belief behind a lacto-vegetarian diet in these religions is the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence. According to the Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures), all living beings are equally valued. Hindus believe that vegetarianism is vital for spiritual progress. It is believed that it takes many more vegetables or plants to produce an equal amount of meat, and consequently, more lives are destroyed, causing more suffering. Therefore, according to ahimsa, every effort should be made to minimise suffering and avoid karmic consequences. This belief is deeply rooted in the idea of showing respect for all living things and promoting environmentally conscious living.
In Jainism, the vegetarian standard is strict, allowing only the consumption of fruit and leaves that can be obtained from plants without causing their death. Uprooting plants is considered bad karma, so root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, radishes, and turnips are excluded from the diet. Jains also refrain from consuming honey as it is considered stealing food and the process of honey collection destroys bee hives and bee eggs and larvae.
A notable historical figure who followed a lacto-vegetarian diet was Mahatma Gandhi, who drank milk daily. In his autobiography, Gandhi expressed his desire to give up milk but explained that he could not regain his strength after a serious illness without consuming milk.
In the Western world, ovo-lacto vegetarians, who consume both eggs and dairy, are the most common and traditional type of vegetarians. However, in Indian religions, most individuals are raised as either ovo-lacto vegetarians or lacto-vegetarians, with eggs being considered a meat product. Those who consume eggs but not meat refer to themselves as "eggetarians".
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Health benefits
A lacto-vegetarian diet is a plant-based diet that excludes meat, fish, and poultry but includes dairy products. This diet has been linked to several health benefits.
Firstly, it can help maintain a healthy weight or support weight loss. Lacto-vegetarian diets are typically high in fibre and low in calories, which may help prevent overeating by increasing feelings of fullness. Research has shown that vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than omnivores, indicating that plant-based diets may be beneficial for weight management.
Secondly, a lacto-vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is because eating meat, especially red meat, is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, while a lacto-vegetarian diet provides a good source of fibre, which aids in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
Thirdly, this diet can improve heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. By including healthy fats and quality nutrients, it promotes the growth of good cholesterol while reducing bad cholesterol levels in the body. Additionally, it helps maintain normal blood pressure levels, which is particularly beneficial for those at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Furthermore, a lacto-vegetarian diet may offer protective effects against certain types of cancer. Research suggests that vegetarians have a lower mortality rate from ischaemic heart disease than omnivores, indicating potential cancer-fighting properties.
Lastly, this diet provides a wide range of essential nutrients, including healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It can boost immunity and metabolism, and aid in maintaining blood glucose levels.
While a lacto-vegetarian diet offers these health benefits, proper planning is crucial to prevent potential adverse effects. For example, extra attention should be paid to ensuring adequate intakes of iron, protein, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids, as these nutrients may be lower in a vegetarian diet. Dietary supplements may be recommended if food sources of these nutrients are insufficient.
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Environmental impact
Food and beverage consumption has a significant impact on the environment. The food we consume varies greatly between different diets, and this has a direct impact on the environment.
A lacto-vegetarian diet is a type of vegetarianism that excludes meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs but includes dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and milk. It is a variation of vegetarianism that can help reduce one's environmental impact. This is because meat, fish, and other animal-based foods (eggs, milk, and dairy products) make the largest contribution to the environmental footprints of an omnivorous diet. A lacto-vegetarian diet can, therefore, help reduce environmental impact by excluding these foods.
Research has shown that omnivorous diets generate worse carbon, water, and ecological footprints than other diets. A study of 153 Italian adults (51 omnivores, 51 ovo-lacto-vegetarians, and 51 vegans) found that the omnivorous choice generated worse environmental impacts than the other diets. The omnivorous diet was found to have a higher impact on carbon, water, and ecological footprints. The study also found no difference in the environmental impacts of ovo-lacto-vegetarians and vegans, with both groups having diets more adherent to the Mediterranean pattern.
However, it is important to note that there is a lack of information concerning the overall environmental impact of diets. While some studies have focused on specific food groups or meals, others have not taken into account real diets or the variance within a population. Additionally, there is no universally accepted system for measuring the environmental impact of diets quantitatively. A widely used method is the Life Cycle Impact Assessment technique (LCAs), which can estimate the environmental impacts of production, transport, processing, storage, waste disposal, and other life stages of food production.
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Frequently asked questions
A lacto-vegetarian diet is a type of vegetarianism that includes dairy products but excludes meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.
A lacto-vegetarian diet can help reduce your environmental impact and may offer health benefits such as improved heart health, reduced risk of certain types of cancer, and lower blood pressure.
A lacto-vegetarian diet includes plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, as well as dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter.
People may choose a lacto-vegetarian diet for environmental, ethical, or health reasons. Some followers of Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism adopt this diet as it aligns with the principle of non-violence or ahimsa.
