Atherosclerosis
The most important dietary changes to make in protecting arteries from atherosclerosis
include avoiding sources of saturated fat, such
as meat and dairy products. A decrease in atherosclerosis resulting
from a pure vegetarian diet (no meat, poultry, dairy
or eggs), combined with exercise and stress reduction,
has been proven by medical research. So-called “Mediterranean” diets (high in beans and peas, fish, fruit, vegetables, bread,
and cereals; and low in meat, dairy fat, and eggs)
have also had remarkable effects in reducing the risk of dying from heart disease.
Cancer
Research suggests that consumption of meat and other animal products may increase the risk
of colon cancer, particularly if the meat is
overcooked. Compared with meat eaters, most, but not all, studies have found vegetarians are
less likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Female vegetarians have been reported to have lower
oestrogen levels compared with meat-eating women, possibly explaining a lower incidence of
uterine and breast cancers.
The following two possibilities are both strongly supported by research findings:
Some foods consumed by vegetarians may protect against cancer.
Eating meat may increase the risk of cancer.
Breast and Colon Cancer (in relation to how meat is cooked)
Most, but not all, studies show meat-eaters have a high risk of colon and breast cancers.
In some colon-cancer studies, the association has been limited to consumption of sausage or other processed meats.
The association between cancer and consumption of meat depends in part on how well the meat
is cooked. Well-done meat contains more carcinogenic material than does lightly cooked meat.
Recent evidence from preliminary studies shows that people who eat well-done, fried, or
heavily browned meat have a high risk of colon and breast cancers.
However, not every report has found that exposure to carcinogens found in well-done meat
leads to an increased risk of cancer. Some studies may have failed to find this link because
they did not consider the effect of genetics. Susceptibility to the colon cancer-causing
effects of well-cooked meat appears to be genetically determined. Genetics may also determine
whether eating well-done meat increases the risk of breast cancer. As with colon cancer,
genetic testing to determine which consumers of well-done meat are at high risk of breast
cancer is rarely done except in research trials.
Most doctors tell people wishing to reduce their risk of breast and colon cancers to stop
eating meat, or at least significantly reduce consumption, and to limit intake to meat that is
rare or medium-cooked. Removing all meat from the diet may be the safest option, because
consumption of even rare or medium-cooked meat has been associated with at least some increase
in risk.
Prostate Cancer (in
relation to how meat is cooked)
Meat contains high amounts of arachidonic acid. Some by-products of arachidonic acid have
promoted prostate cancer in animals. Preliminary reports have suggested that frequently eating
well-done steak or cured meats may also increase the risk of prostate cancer in men, although
the association between prostate cancer and other meats has not been consistently
reported.
Lung Cancer (in relation
to how meat is cooked)
Consumption of fried and well-done red meat was associated with an elevated risk of lung
cancer in one report. Consumption of red meat in general, as well as fried meat, correlated
with a high risk of lung cancer in another study. People who cook with fat taken from meat
(such as bacon fat and lard) may also be at high risk of lung cancer, according to preliminary
research.
In one report, high consumption of hot dogs was associated with an almost tenfold increase
in the risk of childhood leukaemia when compared with low consumption. In another report,
maternal consumption of hot dogs and childhood consumption of hamburgers or hot dogs at least
once per week were associated with a doubling of the risk of cancers in children. A review of
nine studies found an association between consumption by
pregnant women of cured meat and the risk of brain cancer in their offspring. These
associations do not yet constitute proof that eating hot dogs or hamburgers causes cancer in
children, and evidence linking cured meat consumption to childhood cancers remains somewhat
inconsistent.
In the report studying the effects of eating hot dogs and hamburgers, the association
between meat eating and leukaemia was weakest among children who took vitamin supplements,
suggesting that these supplements may have had a protective effect. Processed meats such as
hot dogs contain nitrates and nitrites—precursors to carcinogens. Antioxidants found in
multivitamins keep nitrates and nitrites from converting into those carcinogens.
Therefore, the association between vitamin consumption in children and protection against
childhood cancers remains plausible, though unproven.
In the debate over whether dietary fat increases breast cancer risks, only one fact is
indisputable: women in countries that consume high amounts of meat and dairy fat have a high
risk of breast cancer, while women in countries that mostly consume rice,
soya, vegetables and fish (instead of meat and dairy fat) have a low risk of breast
cancer.
Cardiovascular
Disease
A diet high in fish appears protective against heart disease, while a high intake of
saturated fat (found in meat) may contribute to heart disease. A large study of male
healthcare professionals found that those men eating mostly a “prudent” diet (high
in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and
poultry) had a 30 percent lower risk of heart attacks compared to men who ate the fewest foods
in the “prudent” category. In contrast, men who ate the highest percentage of
their foods from the “typical American diet” category (high in red meat, processed
meat, refined grains, sweets, and desserts) had a 64 percent increased risk of heart attack,
compared to men who ate the fewest foods in that category.
Crohn’s Disease
As with many other health conditions, it may be beneficial for persons with this condition
to eat less meat and dairy fat and more fruits and vegetables.
Diabetes
Vegetarians have been reported to have a low risk of type 2 diabetes. When people with
diabetic nerve damage switch to a vegan diet (no meat, dairy, or eggs), improvements have been
reported after several days. In one trial, pain completely disappeared in 17 of 21 people.
Fats from meat also cause heart disease, the leading killer of people with diabetes.
Vegetarians eat less protein than do meat eaters. Reducing protein intake has lowered kidney
damage caused by diabetes, and may also improve glucose tolerance. Diets high in fat,
especially saturated fat, worsen glucose tolerance and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Worldwide, children whose energy comes primarily from a diet high in dairy (or meat) products
have a significantly higher chance of developing type 1 diabetes than do children whose energy
comes primarily from a diet high in vegetable sources.
Diverticular
Disease
One study of food intake revealed a 50 percent increase in incidence of diverticular
disease in persons eating a diet high in meat and low in vegetables relative to those eating a
high-vegetable and low-meat diet.
Fibrocystic Breast
Disease (FBD)
Fibrocystic disease has been linked to oestrogen imbalance in the body. When women with
fibrocystic disease eat a low-fat diet, their oestrogen
levels decrease. After three to six months, the pain and lumpiness of FBD also decreases,
according to some research. The link between fat and FBD symptoms appears to be most strongly
related to saturated fat, which is high in meat.
Gallstones
In some trials, vegetarians had only half the risk of developing gallstones compared with
meat eaters. Vegetarians often eat fewer calories and less cholesterol. They also tend to weigh less than meat
eaters. All of these differences may reduce gallstone incidence.
Gout
Restricting purine intake can reduce the risk of
a gout attack in people susceptible to gout. Foods high in purines include protein-rich foods,
such as sweetbreads, liver, and other organ
meats, and red meat.
Halitosis
Access by oral bacteria to sulphur-containing amino acids enhances the production of the
sulphur gases partially responsible for bad breath. Cleaning the mouth after eating
sulphur-rich food, including meat, may help remove the food for these bacteria.
Heart Attack
Dietary fat consumption increases heart attack risk. The Nurses’ Health Study found
that eating foods high in saturated fats (meat and dairy fat) was directly associated with
more nonfatal heart attacks and deaths from coronary heart disease than eating lower amounts
of these foods. Other studies report a direct association between frequent consumption of meat
and butter and heart attacks. Making positive dietary
changes immediately following a heart attack is likely to decrease one’s chance of
having a second heart attack. In one study, people began eating more vegetables and fruits,
and substituted fish, nuts, and legumes for
meat and eggs 24 to 48 hours after a heart attack. Six weeks later, the diet group had
significantly fewer fatal and nonfatal heart attacks than a similar group who did not make
these dietary changes. Many doctors tell people trying to reduce their risk of heart disease
to avoid all meat and dairy fat. Fish is often suggested instead of meat. People eating a
“Mediterranean” diet (high in beans and peas, fish, fruit, vegetables, bread, and
cereals; and low in meat, dairy fat, and eggs) for two years had a remarkable 70 percent
reduced risk of dying from heart disease compared with people not eating the diet. Similar
results were also confirmed after almost four years.
High Cholesterol
Significant amounts of saturated fat are found in
beef, pork, and
veal. Avoiding these foods reduces cholesterol levels and has even been reported to
reverse existing heart disease. Vegetarians have lower cholesterol and less heart disease than
meat eaters, in part because they avoid animal fat. Vegans (people who eat no meat, dairy, or
eggs) have the lowest cholesterol levels, and switching from a standard diet to a vegan diet
has been reported to reverse heart disease.
High
Homocysteine
People with high-homocysteine levels are typically advised to reduce their consumption of
meat and saturated fat, because these dietary changes lower the risk of heart disease. Since
homocysteine is produced from the amino acid methionine, intake of large amounts of methionine
increases homocysteine levels. Foods high in methionine that have also been linked with an
increased risk of heart disease include meat and eggs. The extent to which consumption of
these foods affects the risk of heart disease as a result of their methionine content remains
unknown.
High
Triglycerides
People with high triglycerides are typically advised to reduce their weight and limit the consumption of meat and saturated fats.
Many doctors recommend a diet low in saturated fat (meaning avoidance of red meat and all
dairy except nonfat dairy) to reduce triglycerides and the risk of heart disease.
Hives
Allergy to foods and food additives is a common cause of hives, especially in chronic
cases. Cured meat is among the foods most commonly reported as a trigger for hives.
Intermittent
Claudication
Important dietary changes for preventing atherosclerosis (and, consequently, intermittent
claudication) include avoiding meat and dairy fat, increasing
fibre, and possibly avoiding foods containing trans
fatty acids.
Iron Deficiency
The most absorbable form of iron, called “heme”
iron, is found in meat, poultry, and fish.
Kidney Stones
Increased levels of urinary calcium also increase the risk of stone formation. Consumption
of animal protein from meat, dairy, poultry, or fish increases urinary calcium.
Morning Sickness
In a Harvard study, women with a high intake of saturated fat (found mainly in meat and
dairy) during the year prior to pregnancy had a much higher risk of severe morning sickness
than did women eating less saturated fat.
Osteoarthritis
(OA)
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Dr. Max Warmbrand used a diet free of meat, poultry,
dairy, chemicals, sugar, eggs, and processed foods for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
and OA, claiming significant anecdotal success. He reported that clinical results took at
least six months to develop. The Warmbrand diet has never been properly tested in clinical
research. Moreover, although the diet is healthful and should reduce the risk of being
diagnosed with many other diseases, it is difficult for most people to follow. This
difficulty, plus the lack of published research, leads many doctors who are aware of the
Warmbrand diet to use it only if other approaches have failed.
Parasites
Undercooked meat and poultry can contain parasites.
Phenylketonuria
(PKU)
A PKU diet is one that is low in protein, providing no more than the minimum amount of
phenylalanine needed by the body. All high-protein foods, such as meats and poultry, are
usually eliminated.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Several studies suggest that diets low in fat may help to reduce symptoms of PMS. Many
doctors recommend diets very low in meat and dairy fat and high in fruit, vegetables, and
whole grains for women with PMS.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
(RA)
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Max Warmbrand, a naturopathic doctor, used a very low-fat
diet to treat people with RA. He recommended a diet free of meat, dairy, chemicals, sugar,
eggs, and processed foods. See Osteoarthritis (above).
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
(SLE)
An isolated case of someone with SLE improving significantly after the introduction of a
vegetarian diet has been reported. In Japan, women who frequently ate fatty meats, such as
beef and pork, were reported to be at higher risk for SLE compared with women eating little of
these foods. Consuming fewer calories, less fat, and foods low in phenylalanine and tyrosine
(prevalent in high-protein foods such as meat and dairy) might be helpful, according to animal
and preliminary human studies.
Weight Loss
For weight loss, foods with a high proportion of calories from fat should be eliminated
from the diet, or consumed only in limited amounts; these include red meat, poultry skins, and
dark poultry meat.
Wilson’s
Disease
Most foods contain at least some copper, so it is not possible to avoid the metal
completely. Foods high in copper, such as organ meats, should be eliminated from the diet.