A global study by researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia shows that countries which consume more plant-based protein have longer adult life expectancies. Authors of the article in the journal Nature Communications suggest a mixed picture when comparing the health impacts of meat versus plant protein, including nuts and whole grains. Specifically, for children under five, a food system that supplies large amounts of animal protein and fat, such as meat, eggs and dairy lowered rates of infant mortality. However, for adults the opposite is true. The study concludes that protein is a crucial part of the human diet, but as eating habits change where we get that protein has come under greater scrutiny for our longevity.