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Plant-based nutrition: the key to a longer life?

Nowadays, pioneering medical advances are enabling people to live longer and longer. However, it is not only medical research into aging that plays an important role. There is a growing concern to develop strategies to enable healthy aging. After all, the goal should not just be a high aging rate, but healthy aging without chronic illnesses and physical and mental health. After all, health has an enormous influence on our quality of life. Recent scientific studies have come to the conclusion that a predominantly plant-based diet is not only beneficial to our health, but can also significantly increase our life expectancy. We explain here what exactly was investigated in the studies.


The influence at cellular level: telomeres

One focus of research is on telomeres, the protective ends of our chromosomes. They consist of repeating DNA sequences and prevent damage to the chromosomes during cell division. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres, which are also considered a biomarker for the aging process, shorten. The length of the telomeres provides information about a person's health and life expectancy. Short telomeres are associated with low life expectancy and a higher rate of age-related chronic diseases. Factors such as oxidative stress and inflammation lead to accelerated telomere attrition.

Meanwhile, it is known that many plant-based foods have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies also show that plant-based diets, the consumption of seeds and the intake of the phytochemical carotenoids protect against the degradation of telomere length. This confirms that plant-rich dietary patterns and plant-based foods promote health and longevity.


Living longer through diet?

People often make their own life expectancy dependent on the age of their relatives. However, studies show that only 20 - 30 % of life expectancy is determined by our genetics. Rather, we are responsible for our own life expectancy through our lifestyle. Even if many still don't want to admit it, the slogan “you are what you eat” is becoming increasingly popular. Studies show that a wholesome plant-based diet is a key to high life expectancy.


Health benefits of a vegan diet

People who follow a vegan diet avoid the health risks associated with meat consumption. This reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes or bowel cancer. Increased consumption of unprocessed foods such as fruit, vegetables and pulses results in higher fiber consumption and an increased intake of antioxidants, which has health benefits. In addition, studies show a lower mortality rate among vegans.

It should be noted that a balanced and wholesome diet is essential, as no health benefits can be achieved by following a vegan diet with sweets and fast food. Quite the opposite: this can lead to a lack of essential macro and micronutrients, which in turn promotes illness.

In order to cover critical nutrients even as a vegan or vegetarian, our Vegan Essentials provide you with important vitamins and minerals in powder or capsule form. Finding it difficult to cover the macronutrient protein? No problem, our diverse selection of protein powders offers options for every taste as well as for people with allergies and intolerances. If you are still lacking creativity for healthy and protein-rich recipes for a vegan diet, you can find plenty of inspiration on our recipe blog.


Conclusion

In summary, a plant-based diet not only offers numerous health, ethical and environmental benefits, but can also contribute to extending our life expectancy. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation and eating a plant-based diet, we protect our cells and help prevent age-related diseases. Studies show that our genes are only slightly responsible for our life expectancy, the majority lies in our hands - or rather, on our plates!


Sources  
  • Crous-Bou M, Molinuevo JL, Sala-Vila A. Plant-Rich Dietary Patterns, Plant Foods and Nutrients, and Telomere Length. Adv Nutr. 2019 Nov 1;10(Suppl_4):S.296-S.303. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmz026. PMID: 31728493; PMCID: PMC6855941. 
  • vB Hjelmborg J, Iachine I, Skytthe A, Vaupel JW, McGue M, Koskenvuo M, Kaprio J, Pedersen NL, Christensen K. Genetic influence on human lifespan and longevity. Hum Genet. 2006 Apr;119(3):312-21. doi: 10.1007/s00439-006-0144-y. Epub 2006 Feb 4. PMID: 16463022. 
  • Le LT, Sabaté J. Beyond meatless, the health effects of vegan diets: findings from the Adventist cohorts. Nutrients. 2014 May 27;6(6):2131-47. doi: 10.3390/nu6062131. PMID: 24871675; PMCID: PMC4073139. https://www.aok.de/pk/magazin/ernaehrung/ernaehrungsformen/vegane-ernaehrung-vorteile-und-nachteile/