Research suggests vegan diets usually contain more dietary fibre but have less cholesterol and saturated fat.

This reduces the risk of many modern chronic diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, however, without informed food choices or supplementation, deficiencies may be an issue.

Health experts suggest informed and well-planned vegan diets are suitable for all individuals at all stages of life.

Diet is just one element of a complicated lifestyle puzzle so to live longer, one has to look at other indicators but a healthy, plant based, balanced, varied, nourishing and sustainable diet, could improve the quality of life.

We don’t have enough data to say exactly how a vegetarian diet influences long-term health. It’s difficult to tease out the influence of vegetarianism from other practices vegetarians are more likely to follow, such as not smoking, not drinking excessively and getting adequate exercise.