Life Expectancy Of Vegetarians Vs Meat Eaters
There is an ongoing battle between vegetarians and meat eaters. Most people become vegetarians as there is a belief that people who eat vegetables and fruits are healthier than meat eaters. There are still others who become vegetarians as their belief systems do not allow them to hurt another living being. However, the big question is whether vegetarians are healthier than meat eaters and whether they live longer than meat eaters. |
Health of Vegetarians Vs Meat Eaters
According to available evidence, it appears that vegetarians are healthier when compared to meat eaters, who are more prone to having high blood cholesterol levels. This is primarily because cholesterol is found in abundance in animal-based products, such as dairy, eggs and meats. When a person suffers from high blood cholesterol, they are at a greater risk of getting heart disease. When a person gets heart disease, it can shorten their life expectancy. Furthermore, there appears to be evidence that people, who are meat eaters, are at a risk of developing certain types of cancer, such cancer of the colon, and they can also end up getting gallstones and kidney stones. All these health problems can reduce a meat eater’s life expectancy.
Heart Disease
There is scientific evidence to show that people, who eat a plant-based diet, are less likely to get heart disease compared to those, who eat animal-based diet. A study conducted by researchers associated with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund based in Oxford, England, found that vegetarians were at a lower risk of succumbing to ischemic heart disease compared to meat eaters. However, the researchers also found that other than ischemic heart disease, the mortality rate from other causes was nearly the same between meat eaters and vegetarians.
Nutrition
To lead a long and healthy life, a person requires daily intake of vitamins and minerals. These are used by the cells for various cellular processes. According to researchers associated with the Andrews University Department of Nutrition and Wellness, a plant-based diet ensures that the person gets sufficient amounts of fiber, potassium, folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and magnesium. These nutrients can be deficient in meat eaters. Also, when vegetarians are compared to meat eaters, they tend to have lower levels of cholesterol, lower BMI and also lower blood pressure. So, overall vegetarians get right nutrition and are therefore healthier. This means that they tend to live longer when compared to meat eaters. However, if a person turns into a vegan, they may end up suffering from nutritional deficiencies, such as they may have deficiency of Vitamin D, Omega-3 essential fatty acids, calcium, iron, zinc and Vitamin B12.
Bone Health
If vegetarians do not eat dairy products, they may end up having calcium deficiency. This could end up causing their bones to become weak, increasing the risk of fractures. However, there are vegetables that contain calcium, like kale, and vegetarians also have the option of consuming calcium supplements. Vegans tend to be at a higher risk of suffering from fractures compared to non-vegans.
Life Expectancy Of Vegetarians Vs Meat Eaters
As vegetarians have a reduced possibility of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer, they generally have higher life expectancy compared to meat eaters. However, just diet does not ensure longevity. Along with eating a healthy diet, people should also be physically active. This can ensure a healthy and long life, regardless of whether a person is a vegetarians or meat eater.
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LiveStrong: Life Expectancy Of Vegetarians vs. Meat Eaters
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LiveStrong: The Statistics Of Vegetarians vs. Meat-Eaters
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If you do not get enough sleep in the night, you will end up feeling tired, suffer from a bad mood and also find it difficult to concentrate on things the following day. However, not sleeping enough or getting a restful night’s rest is something all people have experienced at some time or the other. However, it now turns out that sleep and life expectancy are connected. This is true for too little or too much sleep. Apparently sleeping too much or too little can end up shortening a person’s life expectancy.