Oldest person in the world is a .....Vegetarian!

I randomly had a short conversation the other day with a rather tall man - at least 6 feet, 2 inches. He told me that he would have been 8 inches taller had he not switched to a vegetarian diet at the age of 13. ( making him the shortest in his family) His doctor allegedly told him this. I asked him if his parents truly accommodated him for such a diet change(many assume you need more protein and ignore ensuring a balanced diet), and he was appalled I had asked. My own vegetarian diet was never brought up, nor would this guest have much a clue that I was. But it irks me that he believes a lie thought up by himself or his doctor. I do not know where his comments came from as I was nearby and had not even noticed him until he spoke to me, yet he said it out of the blue and I had to comment.

Now that the oldest person in the world today is a Chinese vegetarian. It only goes to show a healthy diet can improve longevity.

I have shamelessly copied the article:

China's happy vegetarian turns 120

(UPI Quirks in the News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Listed in the Guinness World Records as the oldest living person, a Chinese woman has marked her 120th birthday.

Celebrating her birthday Saturday with dozens of relatives and locals in the city of Leshan, Sichuan province, Du Pinhua said she has been vegetarian for her whole life, China Daily reported Wednesday.

Locals describe Du as a tolerant and happy lady who never argues with others