Veggies life expectancy, suffering as good as rest

Vegetarians do not live longer than non-vegetarians, according to a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

Around 2,67,180 men and women were tracked over a period of six years as part of the study.

Researchers found that though vegetarians did not have longer life expectancies, issues such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes were less common among them.

However, other studies have found that risk factors remain high among vegetarians as well. Dr Manoj Aggarwal, a senior cardiologist, explains, “A lot of vegetarians binge on ghee and say that they can’t eat food without it. They come to me with severe blockages. So it is not only non-vegetarians who suffer from health issues.”

Education regarding good eating habits is important for all types of eaters in the country. Dr V. Mohan, a senior endocrinologist, says, “Those who eat large quantities of rice suffer from diabetes, and this trend is definitely more prevalent among vegetarians. This is because their diet is loaded with carbohydrates, and it contains low amounts of fat and protein. A balanced diet is important for all sections of society.”

Experts say that people are switching from eating traditional Indian foods to fast foods, highly processed foods, and excessively soft foods.

Dr Dinesh K., a senior dentist, says, “We no longer see people eating hard foods, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. People do not allow their teeth to become strong, which sends the wrong signals to the brain. The brain perceives that the teeth are no longer working and hence not required.”