Vegan diet

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Excludes all animal products, including dairy, eggs and honey.

Pros

  • Very high in fibre and phytonutrients
  • Lowest dietary carbon footprint
  • Can lower cholesterol

Cons

  • Requires B12 supplementation
  • Watch iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, omega-3 and protein variety

Suitable foods

  • Vegetables and fruit
  • Legumes, tofu and tempeh
  • Wholegrains
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Fortified plant milks

Foods to limit or avoid

  • All meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey
  • Processed vegan junk food (limit)

Sources & references

  1. British Nutrition Foundation
  2. Harvard T.H. Chan Nutrition Source

Related entries

DASH dietFlexitarian dietGluten-free dietIntermittent fastingKetogenic (keto) dietLow-carbohydrate diet
VitaWhat is an educational reference only. It is not medical advice and is not authoritative. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, supplements or treatment. See how this content is produced in our editorial policy; report an error via the contact page.