CALIFORNIA: A vegetarian diet may help people, particularly men, live longer than those who regularly eat meat, according to a study of more than 70,000 Seventh-Day Adventists.
Researchers followed the participants an average of six years. During that period, vegetarians, including those who also added seafood or dairy and egg products to their diet, had an average 12 percent lower chance of dying from any cause than meat-eaters, according to the findings published today in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study also found that male vegetarians were less likely to die from heart disease than non-vegetarians, while there were no similar results in women.
Vegetarian diets have been associated with a reduction in chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, the researchers said. The latest findings confirm earlier studies that show the health benefits of eating a vegetarian diet, said Michael Orlich, the lead study author.
“People should take these kinds of results into account as they’re considering dietary choices,” said Orlich, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Loma Linda University, a Seventh-Day Adventist institution in Loma Linda, California, in a May 31 telephone interview. “Various types of vegetarian diets may be beneficial in reducing the risk of death compared to non-vegetarian diets.”
It’s not clear whether avoiding red meat and processed meats plays a role in boosting life or whether the foods that vegetarians are eating lowers their risk of dying compared with non-vegetarians, Orlich said. He said he is planning a study to help identify which foods are explaining these results.
Those in the study were given a questionnaire to assess their diet. Researchers found that 5,548 people were vegans, 21,177 were vegetarians that ate dairy and egg products, 7,194 were vegetarians that included fish in their diets and 4,031 were semi-vegetarian, which includes eating meat infrequently. The rest were meat eaters.
Study: Vegetarians live longer as men get best results
Study: Vegetarians live longer as men get best results
Michelin Guide Saudi Arabia announces final wave of restaurants
DUBAI: The Michelin Guide in Saudi Arabia on Monday unveiled the final wave of restaurants in its three-part rollout, with three new Bib Gourmands awarded to restaurants in Riyadh, and one each in Jeddah and AlUla.
A total of 52 restaurants, spanning across Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla, make up the Michelin Guide Saudi Arabia 2026 selection, with 11 establishments earning the Bib Gourmand distinction.
The Bib Gourmand award highlights restaurants within the selection which offer good quality food at an affordable price, whereas the Michelin Selected restaurants are noted for the high standard of their cooking and consistency. It’s an endorsement that they’re worth visiting, aligned with the guide’s professional standards.
In Riyadh, the newly awarded Bib Gourmand restaurants include Lebanese eatery Em Sherif Café, local favorite Najd Village, and Persian-inspired Sasani.
Jeddah’s new Bib Gourmand awardee is Samia’s Dish, known for its Hijazi classics.
And, finally, in AlUla, the Bib Gourmand was awarded to Tofareya, a local favorite in a charming village house at the foot of AlUla’s fort, serving authentic Saudi dishes.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, said in a statement: “Michelin Inspectors enjoyed dining everywhere whether humble village houses steeped in heritage to chic contemporary spaces that celebrate modern design. The country’s tables showcase a rich mix of influences, blending Saudi roots with Levantine warmth, Peruvian flair, and international sophistication. This diversity reflects a nation proud of its culture yet open to the world.”
The wave of announcements mark a milestone in the Kingdom’s evolving culinary landscape.
Poullennec spoke to Arab News in Paris in October the future of Saudi Arabia’s food scene. “When we are talking about Saudi, we still have to consider that it’s an emerging both gastronomic and hospitality destination … the second step … is to see more independently run and smaller properties blossom.”
