Vegan Life Insurance: Is It Cheaper?

Vegans and vegetarians are often healthier and less likely to die early due to their plant-based diets. As a result, they are increasingly being offered cheaper life insurance premiums. This is because they are less likely to suffer from a range of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. They also tend to have a healthier BMI, which reduces the risk of various health complications. In addition, some research suggests that vegans and vegetarians might have a lower risk of certain cancers. While the evidence is still evolving, this reduced risk can be a favourable factor in life insurance assessments.

Vegans have a lower risk of chronic diseases

There is a growing body of research that supports the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle. A plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions are significant factors in calculating life insurance premiums, so by reducing these risks, vegans may be viewed more favourably by insurance providers.

Several studies have found that vegans have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A 2013 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that male vegans had a 19% lower risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease compared to meat-eaters. This may be due to lower saturated fat and higher fibre consumption, resulting in more elastic arteries and lower cholesterol levels.

Vegan diets are also linked to a reduced risk of hypertension. A 2012 study in the Public Health Nutrition Journal concluded that vegans have a 63% lower risk of hypertension than non-vegetarians, thanks to lower body mass, non-animal protein sources, and higher intakes of potassium and fibre.

Additionally, vegans may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A 2009 study in the Diabetes Care Journal found a 49% lower risk among vegans, attributed to a lower BMI and a diet free of meat and fish.

The health benefits of a vegan lifestyle can translate into financial benefits, as insurance companies are starting to recognise that vegans may have lower risk profiles. While a vegan diet does not guarantee cheaper insurance premiums, it can be a factor in receiving a more favourable quote.

They have a healthier BMI

Vegans tend to have a healthier BMI than non-vegans. This is due to the fact that vegan diets are devoid of animal products, resulting in significantly lower consumption levels of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. This has a direct impact on reducing the risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.

The link between vegan diets and lower BMI has been established by various studies. One notable study found that vegans had a 5-unit lower BMI compared to non-vegans, indicating a substantial potential for veganism to protect against obesity and related health issues. This reduced BMI contributes to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, as evidenced by a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which found that vegans had the most elastic arteries among the groups tested.

The lower BMI associated with vegan diets is also linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. A study published in the Diabetes Care Journal in 2009 showed that vegans had a 49% lower risk of developing this disease. The exclusion of meat and fish from the diet was found to be a significant factor in lowering the risk.

In addition to the health benefits, a lower BMI can also positively impact life insurance premiums. Insurance companies consider BMI as one of the factors when evaluating an individual's health and risk profile. A healthy BMI can be a favourable indicator for insurance providers and may contribute to more favourable rates.

It is worth noting that while a vegan diet can lead to a healthier BMI, it is not the sole determinant of overall health. Other factors such as regular exercise, genetic factors, and overall lifestyle choices also play a role in determining an individual's health and risk assessment for insurance purposes.

They have a reduced risk of cancer

Vegans have a significantly reduced risk of cancer. Research has shown that a vegan diet is associated with a 15% lower risk of cancer overall. This is due to several factors. Firstly, vegan diets are typically lower in total and saturated fats, which are linked to an increased risk of cancer. Secondly, vegans tend to consume larger quantities of foods known to reduce the risk of cancer, such as soybeans, legumes, nuts, and vegetable oils. These foods are rich in carotenoids, polyphenols, and other disease-fighting compounds.

The link between a vegan diet and reduced cancer risk has been supported by multiple studies. One 2016 study published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition found that vegans had a 15% lower incidence of all types of cancer. The same study also reported a 34% lower risk of female-specific cancers and a 22% lower risk of colorectal cancer among vegans. Another study with 56,000 vegan participants showed significantly lower levels of cancer compared to non-vegans.

The vegan lifestyle has also been associated with a reduced risk of other chronic illnesses, including heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. A plant-based diet often leads to a healthier body mass index (BMI) and lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which are all positive indicators for life insurance providers. The environmental benefits of veganism, such as a lower carbon footprint, may also be viewed positively by some insurance companies.

While a vegan diet does not guarantee cheaper insurance premiums, the associated health benefits and reduced risk of chronic illnesses, including cancer, can lead to more favourable treatment during the life insurance quote process. Insurance companies base their premiums on risk factors, and the evidence suggests that vegans have a lower risk of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Vegans have a lower carbon footprint

Food’s carbon footprint, or foodprint, is the greenhouse gas emissions produced by growing, rearing, farming, processing, transporting, storing, cooking, and disposing of the food we eat. In the US, each household produces 48 tons of greenhouse gases. Food produces about 8 tons of emissions per household, or about 17% of the total.

Meat, cheese, and eggs have the highest carbon footprint. Fruit, vegetables, beans, and nuts have much lower carbon footprints. If you move towards a mainly vegetarian diet, you can have a large impact on your personal carbon footprint.

A meat lover's diet has the highest carbon foodprint at 3.3 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. A vegan diet has the lowest carbon footprint at just 1.5 tons. You can reduce your foodprint by a quarter just by cutting down on red meats such as beef and lamb. The carbon footprint of a vegetarian diet is about half that of a meat-lover’s diet.

According to a 2012 study published by the Public Health Nutrition Journal, vegans have a 63% lower risk of hypertension than non-vegetarians. Lower body mass, non-animal protein sources, and higher potassium and fiber intake all contribute to this reduction in risk for vegans.

A vegan diet can help reduce the risk of all-cause mortality by 15%. According to a 2013 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, vegans have a 15% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to meat eaters.

Livestock farming produces from 20% to 50% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions. If the world became vegan, it would cut food-related carbon emissions by 70%.

They make sustainable lifestyle choices

Vegans and vegetarians are often healthier and less likely to die prematurely as a result of their plant-based diets. This is reflected in the fact that vegans tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than meat-eaters, which reduces the risk of various health complications.

Choosing a plant-based diet often goes hand in hand with other sustainable lifestyle choices, such as reducing waste and supporting ethical practices. These choices indicate a more health-conscious and risk-averse individual, which can appeal to life insurance companies.

Veganism is also associated with a lower carbon footprint, showcasing a responsible and conscious lifestyle choice. This can be a positive indicator for insurance providers, as it demonstrates a commitment to long-term health and a more sustainable future.

In addition, those who follow a vegan lifestyle are much less likely to use alcohol or recreational drugs excessively, making life-threatening events much less likely. They are also less likely to engage in risky behaviours such as driving fast cars or motorcycles, further reducing the probability of fatal accidents.

The combination of these factors presents a compelling case for insurance providers to offer reduced premiums to vegans, recognising their lower risk profile and commitment to sustainable and healthy choices.

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