Want to live to 100? DON’T turn vegetarian: Meat eaters are more likely to hit the milestone

Many often drink and even smoke!

Scientists say that eating meat could be the secret to living to 100, as a study shows that vegetarians are less likely to reach this age. Pictured: Ethel Caterham, from Surrey, the oldest living person in the UK

 Vegan and vegetarian diets might seem like the healthy choice, but scientists now say that avoiding meat could scupper your chances of reaching 100.

According to a major Chinese study, meat eaters are actually more likely to reach the milestone age than their plant-eating counterparts.

Even after accounting for factors like exercise and smoking, people who cut meat out of their diet were 19 per cent less likely to make it to 100 compared to omnivores. 

This trend was the most pronounced among vegans, who are a staggering 29 per cent less likely to become centenarians. 

Vegetarians, who still eat eggs and dairy, were only slightly more likely to make it to 100, with their odds being 14 per cent worse than those of meat eaters.

Even trendy pescetarian diets, which include fish, were linked with reduced odds of reaching 100.

The researchers suggest that these stark differences could be because older people need more nutrients than vegetarian diets can provide.

Lead author Dr Xiang Gao, of Fudan University, says: 'Our study suggests that in adults aged 80 years and older, a diet including both plant and animal-derived foods may better support survival to 100 years than a strictly vegetarian pattern, especially for those who are underweight.' 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15441571/Vegetarians-unlikely-reach-100-study.html