Long life has largely been attributed to diet over the years. Experts recommend eating a healthy, balanced diet including five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day, basing meals on higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes and rice, eating some dairy or dairy alternatives, some protein, and choosing unsaturated oils and spreads and eating them in small amounts. But when it comes to an overall diet plant to follow, and so many ‘healthy’ diets to choose from, which one is considered best for extending life expectancy? According to a number of studies, eating a vegan diet comes with a host of benefits, including protection against certain cancers.
The World Health Organization states around one-third of all cancers can be prevented by factors such as diet, and studies have shown elements of a vegan diet to be most beneficial
The World Health Organization states around one-third of all cancers can be prevented by factors such as diet, and studies have shown elements of a vegan diet to be most beneficial.
One study showed eating legumes regularly reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by about 9 to 18 per cent.
Research has also suggested eating at least seven portions of fresh fruits and vegetables per day may lower the risk of dying from cancer by up to 15 per cent.
A vegan diet comprises of more legumes, fruit and vegetables than non-vegan diets.
Vegan diets also contain more soy products, which have been shown to protect against breast cancer.
Not eating certain animal products has also been shown to help reduce the risk of prostate, breast and colon cancers.
Many studies have suggested eating smoked or processed meat, and meats cooked at high temperatures, can promote certain types of cancer.
Vegans also avoid dairy products, and studies have shown these can increase the risk of prostate cancer.
But it should be noted other research has demonstrated how eating dairy products can help reduce the risk of other cancers, like colorectal cancer, so cutting out dairy products probably isn’t the main factor the lowers vegans’ overall risk of cancer.
New research this month has added to mounting evidence eating a plant-based diet can help people live longer.
The research found eating more plant based foods can contribute to a healthy heart and cardiovascular system and reduce the risk of cardiovascular death.
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study examined data from 12,168 middle aged people who had enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, and the participants were followed between 1987 and 2016.
The researchers in the latest study used four diet indexes, and the findings revealed participants who had the highest intake of plant based foods were 16 per cent less likely to have a cardiovascular condition, such as heart attack, stroke or heart failure, than adults who consumed the smallest amount of plant based foods.
High plant food consumers were 25 per cent less likely to die from any cause and had a 32 per cent lower is of during from a cardiovascular condition.
Casey M. Rebholz, assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and lead researcher, said: “While you don’t have to give up foods derived from animals completely, our study does suggest that eating a larger proportion of plant based foods and a smaller proportion of animal based foods may help reduce your risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other type of cardiovascular disease.”
Another diet that’s been hailed for its life-boosting properties is the Mediterranean diet.
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