A study currently underway at Loma Linda University has determined whether vegetarians and vegans live longer than omnivores. The answer – YES.

The university’s original study started in the 1950’s and tracked thousands of Seventh-day Adventists who followed a vegetarian diet encouraged by their religion. The research showed that foods commonly eaten in a plant-based diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, reduced the chances of cancer, heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, all while promoting a healthy body weight and brain health.

The Study Continues

The studies resumed in 2002, funded by the National Institutes of Health, with a new population of vegetarian Seventh Day Adventists. These studies are showing unbelievable data according to Yahoo! Lifestyle.

• Vegetarian men live on average 83.3 years and the women 85.7 years. This is 9.5 to 6 years longer than omnivores (in California)
• Vegans are, on average, 30 pounds lighter than meat eaters.
• Vegans are also five units lighter on the BMI scale than meat-eaters.
• Vegetarians and vegans are also less insulin resistant than meat-eaters.

People who limit their consumption of animal products also form some protection against lifestyle related diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.

To read more about the impact of a plant-based diet on health, check out the China Study.