Between people who love eating meat and those who prefer vegetarian diets, which group is more likely to live longer? Let's hear what doctors say.

Introduction: Juana Mendoza, a Spanish vegan blogger, has rapidly garnered over a million followers on social media in recent years due to her unwavering vegan beliefs and sunny personality. She actively promotes the lifestyle philosophy of "veganism is healthier," which has received enthusiastic support from her followers, some of whom have even embarked on a vegan diet as a result.

However, the popularity of veganism is not limited to online influencers and celebrities. An increasing number of ordinary people are also embracing veganism for various reasons. Some do it due to religious beliefs, others out of concern for the environment, while some are motivated by the protection of animal rights. Even more individuals firmly believe that veganism is a healthier, longer lasting, and more fashionable lifestyle that fits modern trends.

But is veganism really as perfect as people think? Does it really offer numerous benefits such as health, longevity, and environmental protection, as commonly claimed? In the following discussion, let's delve into this question in detail.

Nutritional Imbalance

While vegetarian diets are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, they often lack essential nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, and calcium.

Long-term vegetarianism may lead to a deficiency of these nutrients, which can in turn affect the normal functions of the body.

For instance, protein deficiency can lead to muscle loss and weakened immune function; iron deficiency can cause anemia; zinc deficiency can affect taste perception and growth and development; and calcium deficiency can result in bone loss and osteoporosis.

Insufficient Energy Supply

Vegetarian foods tend to have lower caloric content. If one only consumes vegetarian food for a long time, it may not provide sufficient energy to meet the body's needs, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and mental lethargy.

Leading to Obesity

Meat products are often rich in fat and protein. Excessive intake can lead to an energy surplus, which in turn can trigger obesity. Obesity not only affects appearance but is also closely related to various chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Increasing the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

Saturated fats and cholesterol in meat products are major contributors to cardiovascular diseases. Long-term excessive intake of these substances can easily lead to the blockage of arterial blood vessels, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Affecting Digestive System Health

Meat products are generally harder to digest. Long-term excessive intake can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, leading to digestive problems such as indigestion and gastritis.

Impacting Bone Health

Meat products contain a higher amount of acidic substances. Excessive intake can disrupt the body's acid-base balance, leading to accelerated calcium loss and ultimately affecting bone health.

Increasing the Risk of Certain Cancers

Excessive consumption of meat may increase the risk of developing cancers such as colon cancer and stomach cancer.

Leading to Nutritional Imbalance

While meat is a rich source of high-quality protein and various nutrients, relying solely on it for a long time can lead to a lack of other essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Nutritional imbalance can trigger various health issues, including a weakened immune system and anemia.

Meat eaters or vegetarians, which group tends to live longer? Let's hear what a doctor has to say.

The debate over whether eating meat or being vegetarian leads to longer life has sparked countless discussions throughout history.

Vegetarians firmly believe that a vegetarian diet can make the body lighter and metabolism smoother, ultimately achieving the effect of prolonging life. On the other hand, meat lovers firmly believe that the protein-rich meat can help maintain muscle health, reduce muscle loss, and lay a solid foundation for a longer lifespan.

To explore the answer to this question, a doctor in the United States conducted a long-term follow-up study on 1,000 volunteers. Among them, 500 were vegetarians and 500 were meat eaters. The results showed that vegetarians had an average lifespan that was 3 to 5 years longer than meat eaters, a finding that seems to provide strong support for the vegetarians' viewpoint.

The reason why vegetarianism may lead to longer life is closely related to its health benefits. People who are vegetarian for a long time have a significantly lower risk of developing problems such as hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, and obesity.

On the other hand, people who consume meat regularly are prone to hypertension, fatty liver, and obesity due to excessive intake of fat and protein. If these problems are not treated promptly, they may even lead to cancer and threaten life.

However, this does not mean that we should blindly pursue vegetarianism. Although vegetarianism can reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases, long-term vegetarianism may also lead to nutritional imbalance and increase the risk of developing other diseases, which is not conducive to longevity.

So, how can we achieve longevity in our daily lives?

Balanced diet is the cornerstone of healthy and long life.

We should ensure adequate intake of nutrients while avoiding excessive fats and sugars. Moderate consumption of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals can maintain the normal operation of the body, boost immunity, and prevent diseases.

Appropriate exercise

Exercise not only enhances cardiopulmonary function and improves physical fitness, but also alleviates stress and improves mood. Engaging in at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily, such as walking, jogging, and swimming, can keep us away from illnesses and maintain vitality.

Good sleep

Good sleep is a crucial factor for healthy and long life. Sleep restores physical strength, regulates the endocrine system, and enhances immunity. We should cultivate good sleep habits, maintain regular schedules, avoid staying up late and insomnia, and ensure that our bodies get sufficient rest.

Maintaining mental health

We should learn to regulate our emotions and maintain a positive and optimistic mindset. When facing pressure and challenges, we can adopt relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation to alleviate stress and maintain physical and mental health.

Once an expert pointed out in a startling way, "At least half of the reasons why people get sick can be attributed to diet." Although this sentence is straightforward, it contains profound truths. We often say, "Misfortunes come from the mouth, and diseases enter through the mouth." We understand this truth, but why is it always difficult to put it into action?

Whether adhering to the belief of vegetarianism or being passionate about carnivorous gluttony, both may trap us in nutritional misunderstandings. Vegetarianism may lead to insufficient protein intake. Although plants do contain protein, its absorption rate is lower compared to meat and eggs.

Meanwhile, the iron content in vegetables is only about 2%, far lower than the 25% in meat. On the other hand, being indulgent in meat for a long time may cause us to lack necessary vitamins, such as vitamins C, B, and A.

Additionally, red meat contains some harmful substances that are difficult for the human body to metabolize. Studies have shown that people who consume a large amount of red meat for a long time have a significantly increased risk of developing cancer.

The daily intake of meat should be controlled at around 60g, not exceeding 75g.

The intake of seafood should be between 40g and 70g.

Egg intake should be controlled between 40g and 50g.

When eating meat, one should try to choose lean meat and reduce the intake of fatty meat.

The intake of vegetables and fruits is also essential. Consuming about 500g of vegetables daily can not only clear the intestines, aid digestion, but also provide us with the daily required vitamins.

If we can follow such dietary principles, combining meat and vegetables, and achieving a reasonable intake, our bodies will surely become healthier and more energetic.