We all want to live long, happy lives, but there are many diseases which unfortunately can impact your longevity. High cholesterol, cancer and heart attack are just a few conditions that can shave years off your life.
Luckily, one diet has been found to be highly effective in cutting the risks of developing such conditions - and has even shown to help weight loss and boost energy. Switching to a vegetarian diet can offer multiple health benefits, including a longer life.
Numerous studies have proven going meat-free can reduce the risk of developing cancers and heart disease.
By following a vegetarian diet, you could do yourself a big favour. Read below to learn about what quitting meat can do for your body, as reported by the Mirror.
Benefits of vegetarian diet
Research and health experts suggest that diets loaded with plant foods may help people live longer. The same can be said about diets low in red and processed meats.
Moreover, vegetarian diets tend to pack in plenty of fibre, plant protein and antioxidants. Diets rich in these nutrients are believed to safeguard against obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease, which boosts one’s longevity.
One study published in The American Journal of Nutrition looked at the risk of hospitalisation or death from ischemic heart disease among British vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
The study involved 44,561 men and women living in both England and Scotland, of whom 34% followed a vegetarian diet. The study found that consuming a vegetarian diet was associated with lower ischemic heart disease risk - with lower cholesterol and blood pressure statistics, too.
“Most of the difference in risk is probably caused by effects on cholesterol and blood pressure, and shows the important role of diet in the prevention of heart disease,” explained Dr Francesca Crowe, lead author of the study.
Adults with extreme obesity have increased risks of dying at a young age from cancer and many other causes, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney and liver diseases. Obesity is associated with a reduced life expectancy, largely because obese individuals are at increased risk of so many medical complications.
This is why reducing your weight and finding the best type of diet to keep your weight at a healthy level is key when it comes to longevity. In another study published in Springer, vegetarian diets and weight reduction was analysed.
Twelve trials were included in the research, involving a total of 1,151 subjects. Researchers noted that individuals assigned to vegetarian diets lost significantly more weight than those assigned to the non-vegetarian diet.
“Studies on subjects consuming vegetarian diets with energy restriction revealed a significantly greater weight reduction,” noted the study. It concluded that vegetarian diets have significant benefits on weight reduction compared to non-vegetarian diets.
Alongside a vegetarian diet, exercising regularly can also ward off the threat posed by obesity and its associated risks. As the NHS explains, having a healthy weight reduces your chances of developing high blood pressure - a precursor to life-threatening complications.
The health body added: “Regular exercise will make your heart and blood circulatory system more efficient, lower your cholesterol level, and also keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.”
