A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Ghent found that the United Kingdom would save £5.21 billion ($7.35 billion) in economic costs during the next 20 years if 10 percent of the population adopted a plant-based diet. Researchers studied the health benefits attributed to plant-based diets across a number of scientific studies and found that if 10 percent of the UK population incorporated soy-based foods into their daily diets, the economic savings would amount to £7.54 billion ($10.63 billion). “Our research demonstrates that increasing plant-based eating is cost-effective, reduces economic costs, such as hospital admissions and doctors’ bills, as well as increasing the number of healthy years people live, and enabling them to continue having an active life,” lead study author Lieven Annemans said. “Our study has the potential to contribute to the way healthy eating is promoted.” While scientists continue to prove that plant-based diets are optimal for health, mounting research links the consumption of animal products to increased risks for developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

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