A study of the diets found vegans had a daily intake of 25 percent less fat than non-vegetarians. Animal products are the major sources of dietary saturated fat. Vegetarians also tend to eat proportionally more polyunsaturated fat to saturated fat compared with non-vegetarians.

By 1908 vegetarianism had become an organized global movement gaining popularity when the International Vegetarian Union was founded in Germany.

Vegan

Lacto vegetarians

Ovolacto Vegetarians

Ovo Vegetarian

In the first variety called vegan: They do not eat any animal products even milk, cheese, butter, and in some cases even honey. They eat exclusive plant products.

The Lacto Vegetarians are those who do not eat any meat or eggs, but take milk, and other dairy products such as cheese, butter, and yogurt.

The Ovolacto vegetarian: Their diet includes both eggs and diary products but no other animal foods.

Ovo vegetarian: The ones who eat egg alone and no meat.

Other categories include:
Pesco vegetarians - eats fish but no other meat; and Pollo vegetarians - eats poultry but no other meat

There are many variations of these two types of diets. Some vegetarians may eat only "organically" grown foods. Some may restrict alcohol and/or caffeine. Some avoid certain additives and preservatives. Some take vitamin-mineral supplements or special herbs. Some avoid processed foods; others use meat analogs (foods made of all plant products [usually a soybean base] that look and taste similar to meat products - such as vegetarian "sausages" and soy "burgers")

The vegetarian approach can also help you shed extra pounds.

Lower incidence of heart disease

Vegetarians are less likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure.

Protect against certain forms of cancer.

Help to have a lower average Body Mass Index (BMI)

A lower mean plasma total cholesterol concentration

A lower mortality from IHD

Lower the rate of rheumatoid arthritis

Lower the chances of Breast, lung, & uterine, colon cancers

Lower rate of type II diabetes

Less incidence of obesity due to eating less total calories, less fat, more fiber.

Lower rates of osteoporosis, kidney stones, gallstones, and diverticular disease

These health benefits found in vegetarians may not be solely due to diet. Lifestyle habits other than diet, such as exercise, religious practices, smoking, and alcohol can also influence health. Therefore we cannot conclude that a vegetarian diet is the healthiest diet, even though it can be a very healthy diet.

One may be surprised that similar health benefits can come from a non-vegetarian diet too if followed with Dietary Guidelines. But many people who choose to eat a vegetarian diet also practice other healthy lifestyle habits, vegetarians as a whole have better health statistics than people who eat poor non vegetarian diets and who smoke, drink too much, and don't exercise enough.