Vegetarian Health

Vegetarians are less likely to develop cancer and tend to live longer than other people, according to a study recently published in the British Medical Journal. For twelve years, researcher monitored the health of more than 5,000 vegetarians and 6,000 meat-eaters who had similar lifestyles. The incidence of death from cancer among the vegetarians was found to be 40% lower than that among meat lovers. The first group was also found to face 20% less risk of dying from other natural causes. After taking into account such lifestyle factors as smoking and obesity, the researchers at the London School of Hygiene and the University of Oxford pinpointed diet as the key reason. But they said they have yet to isolate which feature of vegetatian diets accounts for the difference. Vegetarians eat less saturated fat than meat-eaters and more foods containing antioxidants, which are thought to help protect against cancer. Said the report: The results do confirm that those who have chosen to change to a vegetarian diet might expect reductions in premature mortality.