Dietary & Lifestyle Terms Glossary
Animal Products :: Anything partially or entirely sourced from a once living animal (e.g. cow, pig, chicken, fish and their meat, muscle, organs, eggs etc.). This includes animal secretions such as dairy milk and honey and anything that includes these such as ice cream and cheese.
APlantBasedDiet.Org CERTIFIED :: Food that is WFPB, PlantPure, or Paleo Vegan / Pegan with proper low sodium levels. This is Food as Medicine. aPlantBasedDiet.org
Food :: Anything non-processed with a single ingredient that came from something living or that once was living.
Food As Medicine :: A correct WFPB, PlantPure, Paleo Vegan / Pegan, or aPlantBasedDiet.org CERTIFIED diet with proper low sodium levels. This type of food has the ability to prevent, halt, or reverse common human diseases.
Food-Like Product / Processed Food :: Anything that does not match the definition of Food above and is consumed by humans seeking nutrition.
Gluten Free :: Food that contains absolutely zero gluten. Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat and related grains (e.g. barley, rye, oats, spelt). Any diet type can be made Gluten Free just by removing all gluten containing plant food components. Some interpretations of Paleo diets are automatically Gluten Free by definition. All foods that are sourced solely from animals are automatically Gluten Free. Gluten can be derived only from plants.
GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) :: An organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering.
Juice :: A processed drink created by removing the liquid that is naturally contained in fruit and vegetables.
Lab Meat / Cultured Meat :: Meat grown in a lab instead of inside of a living animal. This is a non-vegan animal product with a smaller than normal environmental and cruelty footprint.
No Added Sugar :: This is implied in WFPB, PlantPure, aPlantBasedDiet.org CERTIFIED, and all Paleo diets, and may or may not apply to other dietary types.
Oil :: A highly processed liquid plant product consisting almost entirely of fat. Oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature. Oil can also come from fish in the form of omega-3 fatty acids.
Omnivore :: A classification for an animal that has the ability to obtain nutrients from plants and animals and typically other sources, as well. Humans are omnivores.
Organic :: Plants grown or animals raised without the use of synthetic chemicals (e.g. pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones). Any diet type can be made partially or fully Organic by correctly choosing all of the different plants and animal products that make up the food consumed.
Paleo :: The diet that “Our Paleolithic ancestors ate between 1-2 million years ago and 10,000 years ago when agriculture began.” There is much debate and controversy over exactly what this means. Most definitions of this diet include animal products. This diet excludes all forms of food developed for modern agriculture including processed foods and juice. It also can or has the option to exclude grains and legumes making it potentially Gluten Free. Frying in added fats or oils is not an acceptable cooking method except in Meat Paleo that allows for some fats and cooking in them.
Paleo Vegan / Pegan :: A Vegan specific definition of Paleo that excludes all animal products. Similar to a WFPB diet. This is Food as Medicine if it has proper low sodium levels.
Plant Based :: A diet that contains no animal products. All foods are from plants only. Some foods may be in processed forms including oils and juices.
Raw :: Uncooked plant or animal food. Raw can be used as a prefix for any of the other mentioned diets in this glossary and will change the meaning to that of only uncooked foods of that specific variety.
Standard American Diet (SAD) :: The types of food consumed by the average American. Typically a large percentage of animal products, processed foods, oils, added sugar, and high sodium levels.
Sodium Level :: The milligrams of sodium per serving of food should be no more than the calories per serving for optimal human health. WFPB and Paleo Vegan / Pegan diets have the correct amount of sodium by definition unless sodium is added as a seasoning for taste when eating.
Vegan :: A diet and/or lifestyle that abstains from the use of animal products. An ethical principal of nonviolence. Attempts to source all foods in the least harmful way to animals, humans, and the Earth. A vegan diet may possibly contain synthetic and/or processed food products including chemicals and may potentially consist of foods fried in added fats or oils.
Veganic :: Plants grown without the use of synthetic chemicals (e.g. pesticides, herbicides) and also without the use of any animal products, especially manures as fertilizers. Any diet type can be made partially or fully Veganic by correctly choosing all of the different plants that make up the food consumed.
Vegetarian :: A diet that contains no animal meat, but includes dairy products (e.g. milk, cheese) and possibly eggs. There are sub categories here such as lacto and lacto-ovo.
WFPB (Whole Food Plant Based) :: A diet that contains no animal products. “Food as Grown”. All foods are from whole plants only. Processing is limited to chopping, mixing, & blending and juice is not acceptable. Frying in added fats or oils is not an acceptable cooking method. Similar to Paleo Vegan / Pegan.
World Food As Medicine Day :: An annual event celebrated on November 3rd. The Day was established in 2016 by aPlantBasedDiet.org
World Plant Based Day :: An annual event celebrated on November 2nd. The Day was established in 2016 by aPlantBasedDiet.org
World Vegan Day :: An annual event celebrated on November 1st. The Day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis.