Alexandra
Sifferlin @acsifferlin
The
latest study shows that meat abstainers have lower blood pressure.
Now
there’s another health perk vegetarians can boast about. A new study published
in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine looked at data from seven clinical studies
and 32 other studies published between 1900 and 2013 where participants kept a
vegetarian diet and found that vegetarians have lower blood pressure compared to
people who eat meat.
Here
are some other reasons vegetarians may outlive meat-lovers.
1.
Low blood pressure: In the latest study, researchers found that not only do
vegetarians have lower blood pressure on average, but that vegetarian diets
could be used to lower blood pressure among people who need an intervention.
2.
Lower risk of death: A 2013 study of
more than 70,000 people found that vegetarians had a 12% lower risk of death
compared with non-vegetarians. With none of the saturated fat and cholesterol
that clogs arteries, vegetarians may be at a lower risk for chronic diseases
overall.
3.
Better moods: A 2012 study randomly
split participants into a three diets: all-meat allowed, fish-only, and
vegetarian no-meat. The researchers found that after two weeks, the people on
the vegetarian diet reported more mood improvements than those on the other two
diets.
4.
Less chance of heart disease: Another 2013 study of
44,000 people reported that vegetarians were 32% less likely to develop ischemic
heart disease.
5.
Lower risk of cancer: Researchers at Loma Linda University in California studied different
versions of the vegetarian diet and cancer risk among people at a low risk for
cancer overall and discovered that a vegetarian diet may have protective
benefits. Although the study is not the final say on the matter, vegans had the
lowest risk for cancers, specifically cancers most common among women, like
breast cancer.
6.
Lower risk of diabetes: Studies have shown that vegetarians are at a lower risk
for developing diabetes. While the diet won’t cure the disease, it can lower
an individual’s risk by helping them maintain weight and improve blood sugar
control.
7.
Less likely to be overweight: Research shows that vegetarians tend to be leaner
than their meat-eating counterparts, and that they also tend to have lower
cholesterol and body mass index (BMI). Some data suggests that a vegetarian diet
can help with weight loss and be better for maintaining a healthy weight over
time.
People who don’t eat vegetarian can still be very healthy, and a vegetarian diet
comes with its own health risks. For instance, research has also shown that
vegetarians are at a higher risk for iron
deficiencies, and some experts question whether
children who are raised vegetarian get the right amount of nutrients for their
growing bodies. Making sure you get the right amount of nutrients is important,
and keeping your physician in the loop about your eating habits can make sure
you’re meeting all the requirements for good health.
Source:
http://time.com/9463/7-reasons-vegetarians-live-longer/