Vegetarians Live Longer and Healthier

The reality is, the lifestock industry produce substantially more CO2-equivilant emissions each year than the ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. The reason being that people are consuming so much meat, that cows are being artificially inseminated to keep up with the demand and there are far more cows to feed and care for, and eventually process, than the environment can naturally sustain. This isn't something that I've made up either, it's well documented and the WHO (World Health Organization) has even made statements in regards to this issue.

This piece of misinformation kills me. You know plants breathe CO2?
I can MAYBE see people b#tching about methane levels from animals, but more CO2 just means healthier plants.

( American Indian Vegetarian = Bad Hunter )

More power to ya! I however will not become a vegetarian!

If to be concerned about liver and kidney health, one should quit taking all the meds. Medicines that so many people take are ruining their health in a way that can not be reversed. Also, ladies, two of the most popular over-the counter lotions that are made to "erase" the dark spots on face contains a chemical that is labeled toxic and poison to liver. So argument for vegetarian vs. meat eater protein intake effects on liver and kidney is fast fading on the background of everything else that is consumed.

The reality is, the lifestock industry produce substantially more CO2-equivilant emissions each year than the ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. The reason being that people are consuming so much meat, that cows are being artificially inseminated to keep up with the demand and there are far more cows to feed and care for, and eventually process, than the environment can naturally sustain. This isn't something that I've made up either, it's well documented and the WHO (World Health Organization) has even made statements in regards to this issue.

This piece of misinformation kills me. You know plants breathe CO2?
I can MAYBE see people b#tching about methane levels from animals, but more CO2 just means healthier plants.

Yes and the plants get CO2 from what we and other animals exhale. The remainder of the excess CO2 kills the ozone. This is a pretty well accepted fact among scientists.

Further point, "more" does not always mean "better". The air we breathe is 21% oxygen which is perfectly sufficient for life on earth. More oxygen wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for people or other animals because it's an oxident and too much can cause free-radical damage. And example of too much O2 being a bad this is in premature infants who receive high quantities of O2 and it contributes to a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, which if left untreated, leads to blindness. So it would be scientifically unfounded to "assume" that more CO2 for plants is better than what they currently need. Also, 70% of what was the amazonian rainforest was cut down for cattle grazing.. even bigger negative impact on plants, if the "yay Co2 for plants" argument was still circulating around your head... we're destroying them.

The article the OP posted pretty much concludes that it's the Mediterranean type diet the Adventists follow that helps keep them healthy. Also I am wondering if the "typical" Ameican diet subjects used for comparison were drinkers and/or smokers or did they control for that Also a strong sense of community and strong faith may play a role in determining life span. It seems to me there are a lot of variables besides vegetarian vs. meat eaters here. JMHO
ETA--do Adventists drink soda?--maybe another variable there.

Wow, so many opinionated people!

An average American diet consists of lots of meat and processed food. The point isn't necessarily to make people vegetarians, but to make them more aware of the impact. Making one day a week vegetarian makes an enormous impact. Adding more vegetables and fruits and limiting the amount of meat and dairy works as well.

I'm a vegan and I agree with the studies and the impacts, but that is my lifestyle choice. I would never force or preach about the way I live to those who do not agree, or just in general. I make as little impact on my environment and as little harm, but again, it is my choice! Also, Forks Over Knives is a FANTASTIC documentary that shows a lot of studies about how adopting a plant-based diet effects a persons diet. LOVED that documentary, made me switch to a strict vegan lifestyle. Of course, this lifestyle isn't for everyone.

Anyway, interesting study for sure!

I have been a vegetarian for most of my life (turned vegan recently). I have regular blood work done and I am not deficient in ANYTHING! My blood pressure is great, blood sugar also. I also look a hell of a lot younger than my friends who are the same age as me (32). I have never been very ill and have never had the flu.
Coincidence?

I've eaten meat for over 60 years and have perfect blood work and blood sugar too. Have no idea if I look younger than my peers. Also I seldom get sick, can't even remember when I last had a cold or flu. My only health problems, other than being overweight, are bad joints and I credit that to overuse when younger. Coincidence?

I have been a vegetarian for most of my life (turned vegan recently). I have regular blood work done and I am not deficient in ANYTHING! My blood pressure is great, blood sugar also. I also look a hell of a lot younger than my friends who are the same age as me (32). I have never been very ill and have never had the flu.
Coincidence?

I've eaten meat for over 60 years and have perfect blood work and blood sugar too. Have no idea if I look younger than my peers. Also I seldom get sick, can't even remember when I last had a cold or flu. My only health problems, other than being overweight, are bad joints and I credit that to overuse when younger. Coincidence?

I'm not overweight...coincidence?

It's great that vegetarianism/veganism is working for you, but the idea that your n=1 anecdote is somehow a compelling argument in and of itself is fairly preposterous.

The vegetarianism/vegan thing is interesting, from a research standpoint. What seems to consistently show up is a benefit to cardiovascular disease risk. However, overall mortality is a little stranger. It seems to offer either weak protection (i.e. vegetarians live marginally longer than nonvegetarians) or no protection at all, overall. This would translate to mean something like you'll be less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, but more likely to die of other stuff (e.g. certain cancers). If you actually wind up living longer, it won't be that significant (relative to you having included animal products), on average.

Meh, while I could probably live vegetarian, I wouldn't want to. I enjoy the taste of meat too much (not too shocking coming from a Texan). Besides, in my mind, if about half of my teeth are designed to cut, rip, and or tear meat, and my ancestors ate meat as well, then I'm not going to change it up too much.

Besides, I can't stand beans in chili. Fine in a burrito, but there are no beans in chili. And I love me some chili...

Meh, while I could probably live vegetarian, I wouldn't want to. I enjoy the taste of meat too much (not too shocking coming from a Texan). Besides, in my mind, if about half of my teeth are designed to cut, rip, and or tear meat, and my ancestors ate meat as well, then I'm not going to change it up too much.

Besides, I can't stand beans in chili. Fine in a burrito, but there are no beans in chili. And I love me some chili...

The apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys, and so on) also possess canine teeth. They are all vegetarians. Some chimps have been observed eating insects, but they do not need canine teeth to tear apart insects. Panda bears have more canine teeth than humans, yet are exclusively vegetarian, eating bamboo.

However, even surrendering to the argument that "humans are, by nature omnivorous", the point still remains that we humans do not need to eat meat. Unlike animals, we can rise above our animal natures; after all, society depends on the fact that we must transcend our lower natures! Just read William Golding's The Lord of the Flies to learn how the thin veneer of civilisation collapses when we fail to do so.

But if you enjoy eating meat then more power to you :drinker:

I have been a vegetarian for most of my life (turned vegan recently). I have regular blood work done and I am not deficient in ANYTHING! My blood pressure is great, blood sugar also. I also look a hell of a lot younger than my friends who are the same age as me (32). I have never been very ill and have never had the flu.
Coincidence?

I've eaten meat for over 60 years and have perfect blood work and blood sugar too. Have no idea if I look younger than my peers. Also I seldom get sick, can't even remember when I last had a cold or flu. My only health problems, other than being overweight, are bad joints and I credit that to overuse when younger. Coincidence?

I'm not overweight...coincidence?

It's great that vegetarianism/veganism is working for you, but the idea that your n=1 anecdote is somehow a compelling argument in and of itself is fairly preposterous.

The vegetarianism/vegan thing is interesting, from a research standpoint. What seems to consistently show up is a benefit to cardiovascular disease risk. However, overall mortality is a little stranger. It seems to offer either weak protection (i.e. vegetarians live marginally longer than nonvegetarians) or no protection at all, overall. This would translate to mean something like you'll be less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, but more likely to die of other stuff (e.g. cancers). If you actually wind up living longer, it won't be that significant (relative to you having included animal products).

My post was in response to the "all vegetarians are lacking in vitamin/mineral/protein. Now THAT is a preposterous post.
My post is merely stating medical facts about myself, nothing more, nothing less.
Can I ask where you found research to suggest or back up the notion that vegetarians/vegans are more likely to die of cancer?

Don't quote me on that, it's just one of the ideas tossed out to explain a potential discrepancy between cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality that's been seen in some of the research. I think all that can be said for sure is that you're less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, but benefits to dying from any cause seem less certain. If vegetarians die less of heart disease but aren't living longer, on average, this would imply something else is killing them off, basically.

edit:

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/3/516s.full.pdf

It's possible I haven't seen the latest research in this area, however, as the meta-analysis above seems to show reduction in all-cause mortality that scales pretty directly with reduction in mortality from heart disease.

I have been a vegetarian for most of my life (turned vegan recently). I have regular blood work done and I am not deficient in ANYTHING! My blood pressure is great, blood sugar also. I also look a hell of a lot younger than my friends who are the same age as me (32). I have never been very ill and have never had the flu.
Coincidence?

I've eaten meat for over 60 years and have perfect blood work and blood sugar too. Have no idea if I look younger than my peers. Also I seldom get sick, can't even remember when I last had a cold or flu. My only health problems, other than being overweight, are bad joints and I credit that to overuse when younger. Coincidence?

I'm not overweight...coincidence?

It's great that vegetarianism/veganism is working for you, but the idea that your n=1 anecdote is somehow a compelling argument in and of itself is fairly preposterous.

The vegetarianism/vegan thing is interesting, from a research standpoint. What seems to consistently show up is a benefit to cardiovascular disease risk. However, overall mortality is a little stranger. It seems to offer either weak protection (i.e. vegetarians live marginally longer than nonvegetarians) or no protection at all, overall. This would translate to mean something like you'll be less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, but more likely to die of other stuff (e.g. cancers). If you actually wind up living longer, it won't be that significant (relative to you having included animal products).

My post was in response to the "all vegetarians are lacking in vitamin/mineral/protein. Now THAT is a preposterous post.
My post is merely stating medical facts about myself, nothing more, nothing less.
Can I ask where you found research to suggest or back up the notion that vegetarians/vegans are more likely to die of cancer?

Don't quote me on that, it's just one of the ideas tossed out to explain a potential discrepancy between cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality that's been seen in some of the research. I think all that can be said for sure is that you're less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, but benefits to dying from any cause seem less certain. If vegetarians die less of heart disease but aren't living longer, on average, this would imply something else is killing them off, basically.

edit:

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/3/516s.full.pdf

It's possible I haven't seen the latest research in this area, however, as the meta-analysis above seems to show reduction in all-cause mortality that scales pretty directly with reduction in mortality from heart disease.

You have just edited your original post....

There are a lot of risk factors to cancer that are beyond anyones control (environmental for example) we all have to die of something, i'd just rather not have my arteries clogged up with ****e...

I'm not religious but I have to question a Christian vegetarian approach based on the following passage:

Acts 10: Peters vision
9.On the next day, as they went on their journey, and drew near unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet held at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12In which were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

15And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, What God has cleansed, that call not common.

16This was done three times: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Do we really need another one of these threads? They never end well...

I have been a vegetarian for most of my life (turned vegan recently). I have regular blood work done and I am not deficient in ANYTHING! My blood pressure is great, blood sugar also. I also look a hell of a lot younger than my friends who are the same age as me (32). I have never been very ill and have never had the flu.
Coincidence?

I've eaten meat for over 60 years and have perfect blood work and blood sugar too. Have no idea if I look younger than my peers. Also I seldom get sick, can't even remember when I last had a cold or flu. My only health problems, other than being overweight, are bad joints and I credit that to overuse when younger. Coincidence?

I'm not overweight...coincidence?

It's great that vegetarianism/veganism is working for you, but the idea that your n=1 anecdote is somehow a compelling argument in and of itself is fairly preposterous.

The vegetarianism/vegan thing is interesting, from a research standpoint. What seems to consistently show up is a benefit to cardiovascular disease risk. However, overall mortality is a little stranger. It seems to offer either weak protection (i.e. vegetarians live marginally longer than nonvegetarians) or no protection at all, overall. This would translate to mean something like you'll be less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, but more likely to die of other stuff (e.g. cancers). If you actually wind up living longer, it won't be that significant (relative to you having included animal products).

My post was in response to the "all vegetarians are lacking in vitamin/mineral/protein. Now THAT is a preposterous post.
My post is merely stating medical facts about myself, nothing more, nothing less.
Can I ask where you found research to suggest or back up the notion that vegetarians/vegans are more likely to die of cancer?

Don't quote me on that, it's just one of the ideas tossed out to explain a potential discrepancy between cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality that's been seen in some of the research. I think all that can be said for sure is that you're less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, but benefits to dying from any cause seem less certain. If vegetarians die less of heart disease but aren't living longer, on average, this would imply something else is killing them off, basically.

edit:

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/3/516s.full.pdf

It's possible I haven't seen the latest research in this area, however, as the meta-analysis above seems to show reduction in all-cause mortality that scales pretty directly with reduction in mortality from heart disease.

You have just edited your original post....

There are a lot of risk factors to cancer that are beyond anyones control (environmental for example) we all have to die of something, i'd just rather not have my arteries clogged up with ****e...

Maybe, but you can probably logic this out further and ask what, particularly, about vegetarian diets seem to confer this benefit. For example white meat and fish intake has actually been linked to DECREASED mortality (versus something like red meat). This makes it a much harder argument that poultry and fish are a detriment to health, or the necessity of going vegetarian for health purposes.

One could rightfully ask if a Cordain-style Paleo diet low in saturated fat, whose protein sources are largely poultry and fish, and whose calories come predominantly from fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts would confer comparable benefits to mortality. This is just an example (not exactly a paleo guy myself), but I think it's worth pointing out that the issue isn't as simple as meat vs. no meat in terms of health benefits and risks.

It depends on the type of fish/meat and how it was raised. For example, the farming of salmon along with other fish and the high mercury levels found in certain fish. I live in Taiwan, they are incredibly healthy (apart from the incessant smoking) and most of them do not eat red meat. They mainly eat fish, without researching in to the fish farming methods of Taiwan I couldn't specify whether they overly farm their fish like they do in the west.
Anyhow, I feel healthy, look healthy and have never been ill. I'd like to think that it is down to my healthy and balanced diet, it might also have something to do with genetics and longevity in my family. My grandmother recently passed away at 91 and she didn't eat red meat.
There are always going to be people for and against each and ever lifestyle choice that we make (specifically on MFP) my friends in real life are an open minded bunch. I love my lifestyle, I feel happy and content. Which, at the end of the day, is all that matters.
Anyway, exercise time for me, I'm off to climb Yangmingshan mountain today, cool eh :bigsmile: