Do vegans live longer? (2024)

FAQs

Do vegans live longer? ›

The results of the latest research are somewhat mixed, but some studies suggest that vegans actually live longer than omnivores. As long as a diet is planned and implemented well, there is likely not much evidence suggesting that their life spans are shortened, especially due to their dietary lifestyle.

Another study found a 12% lower risk, but while research published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition agreed that a vegan diet can lower rates of certain chronic diseases, it did not find evidence that veganism led to a longer life.

A vegan diet can slow signs of aging at a molecular level in as little as eight weeks, according to new research. The findings, published July 28 in the journal BMC Medicine , are pulled from the Stanford Twin Study, also the subject of the new Netflix documentary series “You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.”

Vegans tend to be younger than the general population, with the majority of vegans between 18 and 34 years old. But while younger generations often drive the visibility and advocacy for veganism through social media and activism, individuals of all ages, including older adults and seniors, are embracing this lifestyle.

Vegan diets have also been shown to help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes by lowering total and LDL cholesterol and by controlling lipid levels, for example by reducing triglycerides, a type of fat that is also associated with a greater risk of heart disease (Jenkins et al.

According to a study published in the Nutrition Journal, people who consume less meat have much lower stress levels. A vegan lifestyle gives you better energy, stamina and an overall much more satisfying sexual experience which contribute to a happier sex life.

Changing an unhealthy diet to a healthy diet in middle age could add 10 years to a person's life. A study found that eating lots of whole grains, nuts, and fruits could make the biggest difference.

A vegan diet does not automatically mean that you will age faster or slower than anyone else. A balanced plant-based diet is however protective against premature ageing. Plant foods have a beneficial influence on the main processes that promote ageing; oxidation, inflammation and glycation.

You're likely to notice changes if you decide to go vegan and abstain from non-plant foods. If you stick with healthy food choices, you'll likely lose weight and snack less. You may also see improvements in your skin and energy levels.

A vegan diet also comes with health risks, especially for older adults, although you can take action to counteract those risks. In particular, McManus notes, when you cut out animal products, you may come up short on certain nutrients: Calcium.

Who are the oldest vegans? ›

One of the earliest known vegans was the Arab poet al-Maʿarri, famous for his poem "I No Longer Steal From Nature". (c. 973 – c. 1057).

Most participants had an omnivorous diet, but there were clear gender differences in the number of vegans and vegetarians compared to omnivores, with women being more likely to be vegan and vegetarian than men (see Figure 1). Omnivore men also ate more meat than omnivore women at different meals (see Table 2).

Omnivores who eat less meat are often lumped into the same categories as Vegans. Some large scale studies show that, when it comes to mortality risk, Pescetarian diets are healthier than Vegan diets. Men seem to gain more benefit from giving up meat than women.

No statistically significant differences have been shown for total cardiovascular disease between vegans and meat eaters, but the data so far suggest there may be a lower risk of ischaemic heart disease and perhaps a higher risk of stroke in vegans. There is no evidence of a difference in life expectancy.

Plant-based diets carry some risk of inadequate protein, vitamin, and mineral intake. But these risks are readily overcome by choosing the right vegetarian foods and, when necessary, supplements. For example, soy, quinoa, and nuts are good sources of protein, and tofu, lentils, and spinach are good sources of iron.

The only reliable vegan sources of B12 are foods fortified with B12 (including some plant milks, some soy products and some breakfast cereals) and B12 supplements, such as our very own VEG 1. Vitamin B12, whether in supplements, fortified foods, or animal products, comes from micro-organisms.

Research indicates that a plant-based diet is the cornerstone of healthy longevity and potentially the most important prescriptive tool to help patients achieve a longer life and better quality of life as they age.

Saturated fats in meat disrupt insulin function and promote inflammation, which is linked to brain aging. Oxidative stress: Consuming meat increases oxidative stress within the body, accelerating aging and linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Eating a vegan, vegetarian or lacto-ovo vegetarian diet significantly reduces the overall risk of developing cancer, heart disease and dying early from cardiovascular disease, according to a new “umbrella” analysis of more than 20 years of research.

shows that meat intake is positively associated with life expectancy at national level; the underlying reasons may be that meat not only provides energy but also complete nutrients to human body; from the evolutionary point of view, meat has arguably been an indispensable component in human diet for millions of years, ...