Put that chop down and consider this: a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found that vegetarians may outlive meat eaters. Involving more than 70,000 members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the study found that a vegetarian diet is linked to lower death rates, with men benefiting the most.
Why Go Vegetarian?
Numerous studies have pointed to the benefits of a vegetarian diet. These include a lower risk of hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Anecdotally, many vegetarians claim to feel healthier since swapping meat for veg. As with any diet, it’s a good idea to chat with a medical professional, nutritionist or dietician before cutting out certain foods. And if you do decide to ditch meat, they’ll help you ensure your diet is nutrient-rich to compensate.
What the Study Found
The study, led by Michael Orlich from California’s Loma Linda University, split the 73,308 men and women into groups according to their diet. They were categorised as:
- Non-vegetarian
- Semi-vegetarian
- Pesco-vegetarian (also eat seafood)
- Lacto-ovo-vegetarian (also eat dairy and eggs)
- Vegan (no animal products)
The results suggested that vegetarians were older, had a higher education are more likely to be married. They also smoked and drank less than non-vegetarians and were slimmer.
But of course, those results weren’t enough. So six years later, the researchers returned and discovered 2,570 volunteers had since died. Interestingly, the hazard ratio (HR) for mortality in vegetarians compared to meat-eaters was 12 percent lower. Vegetarian men also had a lower heart disease mortality rate.
What the Results Mean
There’s certainly a pattern in those findings. The research team noted that there tends to be a lower mortality in vegetarians, when compared to meat-eaters. So should you ditch meat for veg, based on the findings? It’s a compelling case, but one that’s best discussed with your practitioner.
Originally published on Jun 24, 2013
