Vegetarian Men at Reduced Risk for Heart Disease

Vegetarian men weigh less and have less cardiovascular disease risk, compared with nonvegetarians, according to a new study in Nutrition and Metabolism. Researchers in China compared 171 vegetarians to 129 age-matched nonvegetarians and found that the vegetarian men’s weight, blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels were lower, compared with the meat-eaters. The vegetarians’ arterial walls were healthier, as well.

Researchers have known for years that Westerners adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet are healthier than meat-eaters. This new study shows that, even within a country where rice and other plant foods are staples, those who avoid meat completely are better off than those who include even modest amounts of meat.