A new study done by Loma Linda University on Adventists living in the US and Canada found that the Adventists live longer and are healthier than omnivores. They weight less, have less body fat, less hypertension and less diabetes. http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Vegetarians-have-longer-life-expectancy-than-meat-eaters-finds-study?utm_source=copyright&utm_medium=OnSite&utm_campaign=copyright
Vegetarian men live on average 9.5 yrs longer than omnivores and vegetarian women live 6.1 more yrs. Vegetarian diet provides important nutrients and nonnutritive phytochemicals that act as antioxidants and protect the body in many ways from oxidative damage. Oxidative damage ages and is the cause of many of the chronic diseases we see in people as they age such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer, hypertension and more. Reducing the intake of saturated fats, meat protein that can have harmful products particularly when the meat is grilled and reducing the total intake of fat results in all these beneficial effects seen in this study.
Research suggest that we eat 5 to 9 fruits and vegetables a day and this is also promoted by More Matters http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/. This and other studies on vegetarians seem to give credence to this suggestion. Check out some of the recipes on the More Matters website.