Life insurance - go veggie?

We all know that vegetarians tend to have a healthier lifestyle and a diet to match. But in comparison to a meat eater; what are the differences and benefits of becoming a "veggie" or simply introducing healthier food into your diet?

Some recent studies into the area of dietary requirement have prompted those involved to suggest that up to 80% of our daily diet should consist of fruit and vegetables. Currently 3.5 million Britons do not eat meat or plan to quit eating meat in the next 12 months according to a survey carried out by Animal friends insurance. This figure also includes those who eat fish as an alternative to traditional meats such as chicken, beef, pork and lamb. It has long been suggested that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables will help prevent certain types of cancer and reduce the general risk of many diseases. Indeed the vegetables thought to be particularly adept at this all belong to the cruciferous family. This includes vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These contain nutrients with anti cancer properties such as; diindolylmethane, sulforaphane and selenium. As vegetarians are more likely to achieve the 5 portions of fruit and vegetable a day recommended by the government and health authorities, this obviously impacts upon their health.

As life insurance is carried out on a risk factor basis, a person with a healthy lifestyle and good intake of fruit and vegetables would be much less of a risk than someone who ate a more meat centered diet and took in much less fruit and vegetables.

According to research, the risk of vegetarians suffering from certain cancers is reduced by up to 40% and the risk of heart disease can be reduced by up to 30%. This obviously affects the premium price for a vegetarian as they will be considered generally less risky. As yet this is only a newly introduced idea and only a couple of insurance companies have adopted the idea. However, it shouldn't be long before other insurance companies follow suit as the facts all point to vegetarians being generally healthier and much less risky to insure.

Life assurance is there to support you financially in the event of illness or death. What bigger life assurance can you have than a healthy lifestyle? Knowing you are doing the most to help protect your body will make you feel much better in both body and mind. Regardless of whether you are a vegetarian, meat eater or eat mainly fish, ensuring you eat guideline amounts of fruit and vegetables will help you to have a healthier lifestyle and reward you in the long term.

Of course certain conditions can be hereditary and if worried you should always consult your doctor for advice on your health and dietary requirements, especially when planning a sudden change in lifestyle.

Chris Rowlands is a UK based author with experience within the financial sector centering on insurances.