Vegetarian Diets Lower Risk for Liver Disease

Vegetarian diets lower the risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a study published  in the Tzu Chi Medical Journal. Researchers followed 3,400 participants and compared dietary patterns with fatty liver and liver fibrosis incidence. Vegetarians had a lower risk for fatty liver disease and less severe liver fibrosis (scarring), compared with nonvegetarians. The types of foods consumed impacted results, with soy and whole grains imparting protective effects when consumed instead of meat/fish and refined carbohydrates, respectively.