The health benefits of a vegan lifestyle are becoming more and more obvious. In fact, nobody can seriously argue this anymore. However, this fact gains momentum if independent and highly respected researchers also arrive at this conclusion. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly the case since a study led by researchers of Harvard Medical School found out that exchanging animal protein for plant-based protein has a significant impact not only on someone else’s health but also on one’s longevity. Read on to learn more about the research results!

“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 per cent.

The Vegan Society’s spokesperson, Jimmy Pierson, said: “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.

“Plant proteins like beans, lentils, nuts, grains and seeds, on the other hand, 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. This is the basis of our Grow Green campaign, which encourages plant protein agriculture in the UK,” added Pierson.

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 plant protein for eggs also leads to a 19 per cent reduction in death risk.

The research also found a 10 per cent higher intake of meat was associated with a two per cent higher mortality rate and an eight per cent 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.”