Vegetarians will live longer than meat eaters, according to scientific research

It has been confirmed that vegetarians will live up to 3.6 years longer than meat eaters, according to scientific research.

A review of six studies in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, tracked more than 1.5 million people for periods ranging from five and a half to 28 years.

It concluded that although there were some fluctuations in the data, "the evidence is consistent that increased intake of red meat, especially processed red meat, is associated with increased all-cause mortality."

Flexitarians will be disappointed to know that the review found that even eating small amounts of meat showed the steepest rise in mortality. So just because you indulge in meat when you're drunk, it doesn't mean you're in the clear.

But it's good news for vegans as the study confirmed "a plant based diet has been shown to improve several parameters of health, including reversal of cardiovascular disease, decreased body mass index, decreased risk of diabetes, and decreased blood pressure."

The review concluded that vegetarians live up to 3.6 years longer if they were on the diet for more than 17 years. But even short-term vegetarians, saw health benefits.