is it true that being vegetarian incteases your longevity?

Answer 1

Vefetarians do live longer and are healthier than people who eat meat, so they have longer AND better quality lives. People do NOT need meat - there are plenty of other protein sources. Eating meat just adds to your sickness level. People in India have been doing just fine without meat for centuries!

BUT if you don't eat a variety of fruits, vegetable, grains, and beans, you will not live a long and healthy life. If you are living on hamburgers, french fries, and pepsi, just dropping the hamburger and living on fries and pepsi is not going to create good health!

Answer 2

Seventh Day Adventist live longer than average Americans by 5-7 years and are vegetarian. They also don't smoke or drink, so that could skew the data. Animal foods contain saturated fats and accumulated toxins. Animals end up with pesticide residues and heavy metals due to their environment and feeds which makes them a great source of carcinogens compared to conventionally grown plant foods. Being diet conscious increases your longevity, and knowing what's in your meat is part of your education.

Answer 3

No. I think studies did show that vegetarians live on average longer than meat eaters, it was no where NEAR the claimed 10 years. But you must take such studies with a pinch of salt (or better, not at all). There has been as yet no study which has shown veggies live longer while meat eating is the only variable. Most studies ignore that veggies are much less likely to smoke, drink, eat junk food and usually eat a much wider range of fruit and veg and are much more health conscious and have to plan their diets carefully. All of these factors impact upon longevity.
In fact, the best studies, which have taken aforementioned variables into account, show very little difference between meat eaters and veggies. Incidentally, the same can be said of cancer and coronary diseases. The studies showed more obesity in meat eating diet, but interestingly, not more coronary diseases (there is a huge misconception about the effect of saturated fats and cholesterol on the heart, but that's a tale for another day).

In general, a good veggie diet can be as good as a good meat eating diet, but not more so, often less so. For reference by good I mean one that has been planned carefully according to nutrition as veggie diets have to be.

Answer 4

I am 50 and have been a vegetarian for 31 years. I am told almost on a daily basis that I look at least 10 years younger than I actually am sometimes people mistake me for being in my mid thirties. I also contribute my youthfulness to Cannabis. The Jamaican Study substantiated by UCLA doctors have discovered that Cannabis contributes an additional 8-24 years to a human's life, without tobacco and alcohol.

Answer 5

No. Multiple studies have shown that vegetarians have the same life expectancy as meat eaters, and get cancer and other diseases at about the same rate. The biggest difference that's been medically shown between vegetarians and meat-eaters is that vegetarians have a lower incidence of obesity -- though oddly enough that hasn't led to lower rates of cardiovascular disease or diabetes...which nobody has an explanation for yet.

Answer 6

Evidence points that way. A great reference is a book called "The Okinawa Plan." Okinawans are the longest-lived and healthiest people on earth. Their longevity is attributed to their largely vegetarian diet and their active lifestyle.

Answer 7

I know a vegetarian who is dying of breast cancer. There are no guarantees these days. There are pesticides in all fruit/veggies. People working on farms are paid poorly because they usually dont have a union and do not have health insurance, so they dont go to the doctor.

Answer 8

No, you are an OMNIVORE. That means your body eats meat, fish poultry, fruits, veggies... in short, ALL food. Eliminating part of what your body was made to eat; how do you suppose that could be good for you?

Answer 9

Nope.

Answer 10

You also need protein .A balance diet makes the best sense.