SDA vegetarian men live more than three years longer than SDA men who eat meat. Researchers believe this added length of life and quality of health is due in particular to the consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables as well as the avoidance of meat, alcohol, coffee and tobacco. Vegetarians have reduced risks of certain diseases because of their increased consumption of whole grains, dried beans, nuts, fresh and dried fruits, and vegetables. Vegetarians are exposed to fewer carcinogens and mutagens because they do not eat meat. Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and nuts are often less expensive than meat.
Plant foods use fewer natural resources from the environment.
Vegetarians typically enjoy a great variety of plant based foods, international and ethnic dishes. A vegetarian diet provides a greater consumption of phytochemicals and fiber rich foods which help protect from heart disease, several types of cancer, diabetes and hypertension. In 1989 the National Academy of Sciences recommends that people eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day and six or more servings daily of a combination of whole grains, cereals, and legumes. In 1992 the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled its Food Guide Pyramid in which the bulk of the diet was to be plant based. The American Dietetic Association's most recent position paper on vegetarian diets stated that those who follow a totally plant based diet should give special attention to reliable sources of vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc.