lifespan

[MerdeCat]

I've read that veggies don't live as long as responsible meat eaters. Is this true?

[angel]

Actually I think it is the other way round. Because of the lower fat contents veggies have less heart disease or strokes and vegetables have lots of anti oxidants which attack free radicals, the things that can produce cancer. I suppose though it depends on genetic make up and I know plenty of vegetarians who do not eat a healthy diet or exercise, both necessary for a long life. The thing I have to beware of is cheese sauces!

[tater03]

I have really never heard either way. I would think that you get more nutrients out of vegetables period which in turn would make you healthier. I wonder if there are some results on this online from some study?

[reviewer]

New studies seem to show that vegetarians live longer:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/21/1064082865083.html?from=storyrhs

I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's possible to live a very healthy lifestyle as a vegetarian.

[MerdeCat]

Thanks everyone.

[ACCER]

Over the years I've discovered some interesting things that seem to contradict the accepted norms:

1-People who drink diet drinks weigh more than those who drink regular soda.

2-Vegetarians, of all brands, have a lower incidence of ALL forms of cancer. EVEN WHEN THEY SMOKE!

3-Vegetarian athletes have greater stamina than other athletes

4-Vegetarians who smoke and/or drink live longer than non vegetarians who never smoke and/or drink.

Those are my favourites!

[SageMother]

There are so many things that affect lifespan that I am constantly amazed when research keeps quantifying length without addressing quality.

Family genetics can make living to 100 an exercise in misery. LOL

[MerdeCat]

There are so many things that affect lifespan that I am constantly amazed when research keeps quantifying length without addressing quality.

Family genetics can make living to 100 an exercise in misery. LOL

Good point!

[beelzebul]

On the whole, life-long veggies and vegan tend to live 5-10 years longer than meat-eaters.
Thats from informed studies, not those sponsored by the meat industry that we see peddled out all the time.

[ACCER]

I'd rather live to be 50 and be healthy than live to be 100 and be sick all the time.

Right now I'm working on immortality.

[justontime]

I'd rather live to be 50 and be healthy than live to be 100 and be sick all the time.

Right now I'm working on immortality.

ACCER I agree with you, I think it is quality of life that matters far more than quantity, of course a healthy diet is important to help us to stay healthy.

[heretoday]

A bit of a cautionary tale regarding a healthy lifestyle....
A dear one I knew lived her life as healthily as possible, low-fat, small portions, always eating fruits and veggies as raw as possible, kept active into her late seventies...and then she started feeling the affects of Alzheimer's, and then the TIAs started coming on about ten years later. The upshot of the story was that by the time her mind was basically gone, she still had the constitution of someone twenty or thirty years younger. She was too healthy to die, even though that is what she would have wanted.

[Lyndsey]

That's odd because I heard about a book called Blue Zones that looks at longevity around the world, and the meat eaters were the ones with the shorter life span. From what I remember, it seemed the less meat in the diet, the longer people lived.

[atula]

you are so right accer...as someoen said...it is not the length of your life...but the depth that is important...right.

[justontime]

Accer is quite right about length of life not being the most important factor. A very old lady that I knew as a child made a big impression on me, she had been a vegetarian since she married her husband when she was 20, he was a lifelong vegetarian. He lived to 99 and she was 104 when she died, both remained active and alert. Some said it was down to being vegetarian, or because they were teetotal, but I think them being genuinely good people who were at peace with life was a factor too.

[giay]

I've read that veggies don't live as long as responsible meat eaters. Is this true?

:eek:my grandparents are vegetarians and they lived so long enough. From experience I don't think its true.

[brandy]

Over the years I've discovered some interesting things that seem to contradict the accepted norms:

1-People who drink diet drinks weigh more than those who drink regular soda.

2-Vegetarians, of all brands, have a lower incidence of ALL forms of cancer. EVEN WHEN THEY SMOKE!

3-Vegetarian athletes have greater stamina than other athletes

4-Vegetarians who smoke and/or drink live longer than non vegetarians who never smoke and/or drink.

Those are my favourites!

Wow! There have been so many benefits when one is a vegetarian. This could be the reason why people would switch from meat eater to veggie consumer. I'm just curious, was there any case that a vegetarian started to eat meat again?

[eniyan]

Its not true.. actually..

Vegetarians usually life for a long time compared to the non veg food..

Veg food does not carry any infections or diseases as non veg food do.

[mj123]

That's odd because I heard about a book called Blue Zones that looks at longevity around the world, and the meat eaters were the ones with the shorter life span. From what I remember, it seemed the less meat in the diet, the longer people lived.

yes, that is what i understand from all the articles that i read about the studies and research conducted