Vegetarians live longer, study says

If we were to have a health wishlist points like live longer, improve brain health, reduce risk of disease and control waist size would sure feature.

While they might sound idealistic, a new study might have found the answer, and it’s easier to incorporate into your current lifestyle than you’d think.

The Loma Linda University in California has tracked the health habits of thousands of Seventh-day Adventists. A religious denomination that promotes vegetarianism and discourage drinking, smoking and drug use. The Adventist Health Study 2, which is midway to completion, includes over 90,000 people from America and Canada, and presents findings which many believe is revolutionary to the way we diet and live.

The study found that those who were vegan and vegetarian had far better health stats than those who were not. Foods frequently consumed by vegetarians, such as fruit, vegetables, legumes and nuts, can reduce a person’s risk of getting many diseases, ranging from heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancer. The study even suggested brain health was boosted and body mass index (BMI) could be controlled by adopting this diet.

When it came to vegans, the study found they are, on average, 13kg lighter than their meat-eating counterparts. They were also five points lighter on the BMI chart. Vegetarians and vegans proved less insulin resistant than others, while semi-vegetarians (irregular meat eaters) have “intermediate protection” against lifestyle diseases. Interestingly, researchers found that lean people are more likely to eat plants, exercise regularly and avoid cigarettes than overweight people.