Veganism is probably the most strict type of vegetarianism around.
The original use of the word "Vegan" dates back to 1944 and the formation of the British Vegan Society. Back then, the term was used to describe a non-dairy vegetarian diet, but has since been expanded - and grown a lot stricter.
Today, a vegan does not consume, or use, any animal products of any type. This related not just to food; vegans do not use animal products - even those that don't require the actual death of the animal - in any non-food items. Vegans also do not consume fish, eggs, dairy and other animal-derived substances, such as gelatine, whereas some of the less strict vegetarian diets do allow the consumption of such, and certainly allow the use of animal products (such as wool and leather). Even foods such as honey are prohibited in a vegan diet. The logic behind not using any products, including those that do not require the death of the being in question, is that the philosophy rejects any use that treats them as a commodity - even if that is only as a source of a renewable resource.
A pure vegan diet, as long as it is properly balanced, is regarded as being a healthy diet by various bodies around the world, not just by vegan societies (as the latter would certainly regard it as being healthy, no matter what). The key words in that sentence are, of course, properly balanced. An improperly balanced diet is certainly not healthy - but that is true of every type of diet, not just a vegan one. However, due to the lack of some nutrients not being provided by vegetables, namely the vitamin B12, it is recommended that vegans either take supplements or eat foods that have been fortified by it.
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