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Replacing meat with plant-based sources of protein significantly increases life expectancy, a major new study has found.
The report, which examined the health effects of different sources of protein, found that exchanging just a small amount of processed red meat for plant protein reduces the risk of early death by 34%.
‘Here is yet another major piece of quality independent research condemning animal protein in the strongest possible terms. If you want the best chance of living a long, healthy life then meat has to be off the menu altogether.’
JIMMY PIERSON
Vegan Society’s spokesperson
Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital followed more than 130,000 people for 36 years, monitoring their diet, lifestyle, illness and mortality.
They found that switching between 15g and 19g of animal protein – the equivalent of a single sausage – for the likes of nuts, pulses or legumes significantly cuts the risk of early death. Substituting eggs for plant protein also leads to a 19% reduction in death risk.
‘Plant proteins like beans, lentils, nuts, grains and seeds… are packed full of wide ranging benefits. They don’t just keep us healthier for longer, they are far more sustainable than meat and fish and, of course, they don’t harm animals.’
JIMMY PIERSON
Vegan Society’s spokesperson
The research also found a 10% higher intake of meat was associated with a 2% higher mortality rate and an 8% higher chance of cardiovascular death.
With at least 542,000 people in Britain now following a vegan diet – up from 150,000 in 2006 – and another 521,000 vegetarians wanting to reduce their consumption of animal products, veganism has become one of the fastest growing lifestyle choices.
Click here to hear The Vegan Society debate the new study on BBC Radio Wales.
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