Vegetarians Live Longer and Healthier

How many of you kill your own food?

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

Or eat it already

If one has recently visited a UK BK they already have.

Oh! I finally see what you are referring to. In my original post, I did refer to "most" cancers as being lifestyle diseases. I guess what I really meant was that the most common varieties of cancer (breast, prostate, colon, endometrial) are largely affected by diet far more than by genetics. Decades of research is now fairly conclusive that what we eat affects the development and growth rate of cancer. Clearly, cancer is far more complicated than that and eating a plant-based diet offers no guarantees, but the research is compelling enough to suggest in many instances that proper nutrition can be equally as effective as conventional treatment. Statistically, ones odds of developing these more common varieties diminishes significantly on a plant-based diet.

I'll throw some fuel on the fire...

I'll see your Nigella Lawson and raise you 70 year old vegan Annette Larkins.....

Really? I'll take Nigella anyday over that skin and bones sickly looking Annette

Who knew twinkies were the fountain of youth!

As a vegitarian how to you get 30-40% of calories of protien? Pm

Hi Pangui,

I found this article to be encouraging, affirming and inspirational. I am so glad I adopted a plant-based diet. Hopefully, I too, can avoid the lifestyle diseases (coronary artery disease, type II diabetes, stroke, most cancers, alzheimers, and obesity) caused by the Standard American Diet.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/02/the-lovely-hill-where-people-live-longer-and-happier/272798/

"The death rate from cancer for Adventist men is 60 percent lower than that of the average California male; for Adventist women, it is 75 percent lower. According to Loma Linda University, ground zero in the Adventist Health Studies, "Death from coronary heart disease among Adventist men was 66 percent [lower compared to their California peers]; for Adventist women, it was 98 percent [lower]. Stroke death rates for Adventist men were 72 percent [lower], compared to their non-Adventist counterparts. For Adventist women, death from stroke was 82 percent [lower]."

Thanks for the article. Personally, I am very nearly vegetarian, having returned to a plant-based diet after about 25 years of meat eating. I am not strict but most of my meals during the week are vegetarian.
I think its great and more people should adopt a well-balanced vegetarian diet.
Having said that, I don't think there is a direct correlation between vegetarianism and better health. I have witnessed some people with eating disorders masking their condition as vegetarianism or veganism.
kind regards,

Ben

Hi Ben,

You make a very good point and one that I would like to emphasize. This isn't about being "vegetarian" or "vegan". It's about eating healthier. I spent 14 years as a vegetarian/pescatarian and I was morbidly obese and my health was declining. Cheeses, fake cheeses, pre-packaged meals, fake meat products and artifical subsitutes does not constitute a healthy diet. What I am learning is that the closer we eat our food to its natural state, particularly plant foods, the better our bodies can utilize those nutrients. Foods like fruits, vegetables, starches, whole grains, nuts, seeds are delicious, satisfying and health promoting. While longevity may be a nice plus, the true benefit is feeling better every moment that we do have (quality versus quantity). I definitely feel at least 15 years younger than I did before I started eating better and the benefits were realized long before the weight came off. I love having lots of energy that I never had before.

I do not believe that as a vegetarian I have the right to judge anyone else. However, there are certain benefits for health, the environment, etc. that cannot be denied.