Study vegetarians live longer

Study: Vegetarians live longer than non-vegetarians

06/06/2013

„Vegetarian diets are associated with a lower death rate“, found a study by Loma Linda University in California out of about 70,000 participants. It was published a few days ago in the medical journal JAMA and sheds a clear light on the advantages of a vegetarian and vegan diet. The end result: 12 percent fewer deaths and 19 percent fewer heart diseases such as heart attack on the part of vegetarians. Especially men benefit from the results of meatless diet.

Vegetarian diet lowers death rate
„The professional interest in vegetarian nutrition has reached unanticipated levels, but the knowledge of vegetarian diets and their impact on human life is far from complete“, explained Dr. Joan Sabate from Loma Linda University earlier this year. With a new study under the direction of Dr. med. Michael Orlich now helps the University of California to fill the existing knowledge gaps. A total of 73,308 participants were divided into five groups: non-vegetarians; Semi-vegetarians who reduced their meat consumption; Pesco-vegetarians who eat fish and seafood; Ovo lacto vegetarians who eat dairy products and eggs as well as vegans who completely abstain from consuming animal products.

In particular, the mortality of the study participants was examined. In the observation period, 2,570 of the 73,308 participants died, with the mortality rate of vegetarians being 12 percent lower than non-vegetarian mortality. Also, some chronic diseases were less common in the vegetarian test groups, including heart disease, kidney failure and diabetes. According to the study results, the largest profiteers are men. Although the vegetarian and vegan study participants were better educated, moved more and less alcohol, Orlich is sure: „When people make decisions about their diet and weigh their options, they should also include the results of that study in their decision.“

Further studies confirm findings from Loma Linda University
Incidentally, similar results were also found in other research work. A long-term study conducted by the German Cancer Research Center in 2010 found that the death rate from meatless diets fell significantly compared to the German population - by an average of 30 percent in women and by an average of 50 percent in men. British researchers from the University of Oxford published a post in January 2013 „American Journal of Clinical Nutrition“, by presenting interesting study results as well. They came to the conclusion that vegetarians are much less likely to suffer from heart disease than non-vegetarians. The study was based on data from around 45,000 patients.

Why especially men benefit from a meatless diet is largely unclear. It is believed that women are more concerned about their health. Accordingly, the positive effects would be less apparent in women than in men. To get to the bottom of this question, we want to tackle more gender studies in the future. And also the effects on cancer are to be examined more closely. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether the study results depend on the already healthier way of life of vegetarians and vegans. Again and again critics of the above mentioned studies insist on this connection. Which recipes can be prepared even without meat, reveal site like www.vegetarian-rezepte.com. (Lb)