Interested in some statistics about vegetarian diets? Studies have shown vegetarians to be at less risk for high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease. Here are some of the long-term advantages of plant-based diets.

Following a vegetarian diet does not yield a larger amount of weight loss than following a non-vegetarian diet according to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity. Participants who followed a “standard” diet lost 8% and those who followed a vegetarian diet lost 7.9%.

Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets have advantages. Vegetarian diets tend to be rich in antioxidants, certain vitamins, and healthy fats.

Another advantage to being vegetarian is that studies have shown that vegetarians live an extra 1 1/2 to 2 years longer than non-vegetarians.It’s amazing that on average, something as simple as a difference in diet can extend a person life up to 2 years.

Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes all animal flesh, including poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, and slaughter by-products. The reasons for choosing vegetarianism may be related to morality, religion, culture, ethics, aesthetics, environment, society, economy, politics, taste, or health.There are several variants of the diet, some of which also exclude eggs and/or some products produced from animal labor such as dairy products and honey. Veganism, for example, excludes all animal products from diet. By some strict definitions, animal products are not used for attire either, whether or not the production of clothing or items has involved the actual death of an animal (dairy, eggs, honey, wool, silk, down feathers, etc.) A generic term for both vegetarianism and veganism, as well as for similar diets, is "Plant-based diets".Vegetarian diets have been found to satisfy the nutritional needs for all stages of life, and large-scale studies have shown vegetarianism to increase longevity, improve health, and significantly lower risks of cancer and other diseases.