For years many of you have debated whether to be a vegetarian or a meat-lover. Both play a major role in your health. While consuming vegetables can protect against heart disease, consuming meat is just as beneficial, providing the body with amino acids and proteins. However, new research has finally put an end to the debate, revealing vegetarians live a longer life, compared to meat-eaters.

According to an international study regarding Adventists, researchers from Loma Linda University School of Public Health found vegans overall live a longer and healthier life.

The study revealed vegetarian Adventist men live to an average of 83.3 years, 9.5 years longer than other Californians. Vegetarian women live an average of 85.7 years which is 6.1 years longer than non-vegetarians.

The Adventist Health Study discovered five reasons you should become a vegetarian:

1. Vegetarians, on average, are 30 pounds lighter than meat-lovers.

2. Vegetarian diet can reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. Vegetarians and vegans are less insulin resistant than meat-eaters.

3. Those who consume vegetarian foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, grains, pasta and whole grains have fewer risk factors for heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women in America.

4. Vegetarian diet may protect against cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer. The positive nutrients, such as antioxidants, found in plant foods help reduce inflammation that can be damaging to the body leading to certain types of cancer.

5. Vegetarians tend to have a wider variety of foods that they eat, leading to a greater intake of nutrients such as dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid and phytochemicals.

Researchers concluded, "It is quite evident that the Adventist lifestyle does provide some protection from cancer and other fatal diseases."

When deciding whether to be a vegetarian or a meat-lover, you should weigh both the risks and benefits.