Types of vegetarians (and the industry terms for them.)

Look, I hate labels and typecasts, but for educational purposes lets review a few types of vegetarians out there in society today. The degree of someone's vegetarian diet is influenced either by religious beliefs, personal ethics, health concerns, or a combination of the above. I personally began with the health aspect, and then began to shift slightly into the ethics as well. Examine your own beliefs and health goals, learn the facts, and choose which of these types of vegetarians you can be.

From an ethical standpoint, the fact that there is this gradient of vegetarianism may lead to complaints of "moral relativism" from the more hard-liners. I believe, however, that human free will is of highest importance, and it is our job as individuals to make the right choice. I also feel that any change that you make to positively impact your body, the environment, or the welfare of animals is a great thing, and that an "all or nothing" mindset rarely leads to a positive impact in this world.
Are there any types of vegetarians that I'm missing? Please let me know!

"Semi-Vegetarian" : An otherwise complete omnivore, who has a preference for vegetarian food. They will tend to lean towards a vegetarian diet, but does not have any hangups about making an exception every once in a while. Not really a vegetarian in most peoples eyes, but hey...every bit counts.

"Pescatarian": This is many people's perception of what vegetarianism, mostly due to religious tradition. From a health standpoint, this is miles above and beyond a traditional American diet of red meat. A lot of people who have no moral qualms about eating meat have switched to such a diet, especially those who are concerned about obesity or heart disease.
I'm no religious scholar, so I'm not sure what the moral context of this kind of diet is. But my guess is that someone long ago decided that fish do not suffer or have feelings. I think the fact that pescatarian is often made synonymous with vegetarian probably irks the other types of vegetarians.

"Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian" : This is the end of the line in terms of eating any animal flesh at all. Of all the types of vegetarians, this is the most commonly accepted definition. The term is based on the greek words 'lacto'(milk) and 'ovo' (egg). Transitioning to this stage is relatively easy, in terms of cutting out certain foods and still having a balanced, complete diet. (Not that veganism is difficult, but it takes some education and preparation). The moral cutoff here is more clearly defined, we are no longer feeding ourselves with a dead or a part of a dead animal.

"Lacto Vegetarian": Eats dairy, but not eggs. I guess the reasoning is that the egg could be an unborn baby chicken, but the milk is just a product of living cows. This doesn't make much sense to me, as the eggs are supposed to be unfertilized anyway. The health reasoning of this particular path is not as clear, as more and more experts are beginning to agree that dairy is not necessarily a good addition to an adult diet. However, I do understand someone who's just not mentally prepared to part with dairy quite yet, good job in getting this far.

"Ovo Vegetarian": In this case, the individual has probably realized the downsides of milk and dairy, or is lactose intolerant. It is also likely that the person believes in the humaneness of free-range chickens (which is highly debatable). Sure, eggs are a great source of protein, but the jury's still out on some concerns about fat content, cholesterol and salmonella. I'll be honest, if I could find compelling evidence that free-range eggs came from humane sources I would consider integrating them back into my diet.

"Vegan": No animal products whatsoever. This is a huge jump from the stages above, as you are not just removing milk and eggs from your diet, but all animal by-products from your life. No honey, no wool, no leather, you name it... No animal testing, no animals used in circuses or for entertainment, not even the breeding of animals as pets for humans. A true vegan believes that all animals in the captivity of humans should be liberated, as our species is fully capable of thriving without exploiting them. They may argue that the other types of vegetarians should be stronger in their convictions. I agree with this 100%, and I think we will eventually reach this level of peace and compassion in years to come. Unfortunately, at the moment, the world seems to be completely against you as the products of animal captivity are so prevalent in our society. Good luck to you, as you are truly fighting the good fight.

"Raw Vegan: Of all the types of vegetarians, these are the true health nuts. Raw vegans believe that organic plant products, not cooked above 115 degrees Farenheit (46 degrees Celsius) retain levels of nutrients not found in otherwise processed or cooked foods. I would like to try a diet such as this for a set period, as the impact in terms of energy and vitality are supposed to be dramatic. At this level, the planning and commitment in terms of eating and food preparation also takes a giant leap. I believe that this truly is the optimal human diet, although I do not know if I have the time or resources to commit to it fully right now. If I found out I was terminally ill tomorrow, or otherwise needed a large boost in overall health, I would probably go completely raw.

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