6 Vegetarian Statistics
You'll Be Glad You Read

These vegetarian statistics will amaze you (in a good way!). Have you ever wondered what following a vegetarian diet does for you? Sure, you may be eating this way for your love of animals or the planet but get a little selfish for once and see how you’re helping yourself while helping others.

Eating more plants and fewer animals (or no animal products at all!) is a surefire way to kickstart your nutrition and safeguard yourself against diseases that are all too common due to the typical Western diet. 

Scientists, researchers and nutritionists have been studying your fellow vegetarians around the world for decades. Now you can check out what they’ve found by reading these vegetarian statistics. Have the peace of mind knowing you’re doing something great by taking care of yourself from the inside out!

6 Vegetarian Statistics

  1. Vegetarians Live Longer Those who enjoy a plant based diet specifically focused on eating nuts regularly may end up living longer because of it. People who consume more nuts in their diet, as vegetarians do, have been known to experience increased longevity of life and decreased mortality rates from many different diseases. What are you waiting for - go nuts!
  2. Vegetarians Don’t Get Cancer Well, it’s not exactly that black and white but if you’re eating a balanced vegetarian diet full of vegetables, legumes, nuts, fruits and whole grains then you are definitely decreasing your chances of getting many different types of cancer. Reasons could be due to avoiding added chemicals and hormones found in meat, decreased intake of saturated fat and increased intake of fiber and nutrients for vegetables. Additionally, vegetarian women have been seen with lower rates of breast cancer than otherwise identical omnivore.
  3. Vegetarians are Skinnier Many studies have shown that eating a vegetarian diet means you are less likely to be at risk for obesity and obesity related diseases like type II diabetes. Furthermore, another study find that regardless of overweight or not, and physical activity level, diabetes is still found to be more prevalent amongst those who eat meat.
  4. Vegetarian Diet Eases Arthritis In a study conducted on rheumatoid arthritis patients they found that following a vegetarian diet improved the amount of pain felt in tender joints, decreased the number of swollen joints, decreased duration of morning stiffness, increased grip strength, increased white blood cell counts and generally made them feel better. Fasting is another known way to lessen the pain and effects of rheumatoid arthritis however once the fast is broken the syptoms return. This was not the case with the vegetarians. It could be due to the many anti-inflammatory benefits of plant based diets.
  5. Vegetarians Help World Hunger It is said that an additoinal 1.3 billion humans on this planet could be fed each year with the amount of grains and soy fed to plump up livestock. If more people gave up meat consumption, more of the earths human inhabitants could avoid starvation.
  6. Vegetarians Avoid Disease, Addiction, and High Blood Pressure The list of diseases that vegetarians avoid or decrease their chances of seems to continue growing. Go ahead and add to it hypertension, coronary arterary disease, atonic constipation, lung cancer, alcoholism and gallstones.

Well the proof is in the pudding; you now have the data to back up your claims and you can tout these vegetarian statistics to all the people who think you’re crazy at your next dinner party. And feel free to revisit this page often if you find yourself wondering from the plant-based path. Eating a vegetarian diet really is the way to go!

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Sources of Vegetarian Statistics

  • Joan Sabaté, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 70, No. 3, 500S-503S, September 1999 1999 American Society for Clinical Nutrition
  • Armstrong BK, Brown JB, Clarke HT, Crooke DK, Hähnel R, Masarei JR, Ratajczak T. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1981 Oct;67(4):761-7.
  • Craig WJ, Mangels AR; American Dietetic Association. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Jul;109(7):1266-82.
  • PK Newby, Katherine L Tucker and Alicja Wolk American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 6, 1267-1274, June 2005 American Society for Clinical Nutrition
  • D A Snowdon and R L Phillips. American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 75, Issue 5 507-512, Copyright 1985 by American Public Health Association
  • J. Kjeldsen-Kragh MDa, C. F. Borchgrevink MD, Profa, E. Laerum MD, Profa, M. Haugen BScb, M. Eek MDb, 1, O. Forre MD, Profb, P. Mowinkel MSc and K. Hovi MD. The Lancet. Volume 338, Issue 8772, 12 October 1991, Pages 899-902
  • JT Dwyer. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 48, 712-738, Copyright © 1988 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
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