A vegetarian diet may be good for your longevity. Or so says a new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
The study looked at over 70,000 Seventh-Day Adventists over a period of 6 years and found that vegetarians (who ate seafood, dairy, and eggs) had a 12% lower chance of dying from any cause than did meat-eaters. They were also 19% less likely to die from heart-disease.
This study was larger and covered a more diverse cohort than have previous studies of this group. Nutrition researchers relish studying Seventh-Day Adventists, due in part to the vegetarian lifestyle promoted by the church.
According to the Seventh Day Adventist Dietetic Association:
“The vegetarian diet recommended by Seventh-day Adventists includes the generous use of whole grain breads, cereals and pastas, a liberal use of fresh vegetables and fruits, a moderate use of legumes, nuts, seeds. It can also include low fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheeses and eggs. It is best to avoid high saturated fat and cholesterol foods such as: beef, lamb, pork, chicken, fish and seafood. Coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages provide few nutrients and may interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients.”