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This is page 1 of 11 (This thread has 106 messages.) First | Previous | Next | Last Go to page

Being a vegetarian can cut your risk of cancer by a half, claim scientists

(106 Posts)
By Wed 01-Jul-09 10:22:16 Add message | Report | Contact poster
"More than 61,000 people aged between 20 and 89, roughly half of whom were vegetarian, were followed for more than 12 years in the British arm of the research which is supported by Cancer Research UK."
"vegetarians were 12 per cent less likely to contract cancer than their meat eating counterparts"
"For some cancers like leukaemia, stomach and bladder cancers the difference was even more striking with up to 45 per cent fewer non-meat eaters contracting the diseases than carnivores."
Wow very conclusive study, maybe there should be a campaign to switch children to a meat free diet!
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Sun 05-Jul-09 17:31:36
Whoa, whoa, whoa. So, taking these results at face value, if blood, stomach, ovarian and bladder cancer risk is halved, yet overall vegetarian/fish eaters' risk is only reduced by a piddling 12%, then surely some other cancer risks must be increased? They mentioned colon and cervical were slightly higher among vegetarians. What are the others?
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 03-Jul-09 17:30:20
I hvae no particular personal bone to pick with the idea

but I am a researching academic, so I would never accept any study until I have gone over it and picked holes in it, which I haven't got time to do tonight

but from the posts on here it does sound very much like it is the starting point rather than the answer, a kind of signpost saying 'more work needs to be done in this area'

rather than the conclusive answer
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 19:11:31
'Interesting that people object so strongly to the message of this study and are determined to pick holes in it. Why is that? '

It is a useless study! We have no idea what they are comparing. If it is vegetarians v people who eat meat pies, burgers etc and few vegetables of course they come out healthier! If they are comparing with those who eat a lot of white fish/oily fish, meat, pulses and tons of fruit and veg, I don't think that they would. We would have to know exactly what each sample were eating before we take any message at all from it.
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 17:48:35
I always check here when I read health articles, just to be sure.
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 17:34:57
Looking again at the blood type book it suggests you should be vegetarian if you are blood group A, otherwise you are at greater risk of cancer, heart disease (apparently).

Blood group O needs to eat meat apparently (suited to high protein low carb diet).
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 17:31:10
interestingly for my type (type B) the eat for your blood group book suggests stearing clear of nuts, lentils, tofu, tomatoes, olives and wheat amongst other things.

Dairy is ok and lamb is beneficial. So I'm not sure if a wholly veggie diet or wholly mediterranean diet would be the best for me. That is if there is any truth in the blood group theory.

I would be interested to know how many of those living till a ripe old age in mediterranean areas are blood group B as I think it is a blood group found more in Eastern Europe/Asia.
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 16:55:07
Wow, it's like some kind of food horoscope!

No cheese sarnies for me then! Unfortunately I hate pineapple but will have no problem avoiding lager!

Thanks again.
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 16:40:53
fizzpops - Type A's flourish on vegetarian diets the exact opposite to type 'O'. Type A has a low stomache acid content so dairy foods are poorly digested - you should also not have too much wheat.

Vegetables are good and most fruits especially pineapple. If you do eat meat try to stick to poultry and stay away from processed meats like ham because they can cause stomache cancer because of your low stomache acid content.

... ah - white wine! it's a neutral - that means ok in moderation - red wine is good!and lager should be avoided.
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 16:37:21
Thanks!
Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 02-Jul-09 16:26:28
I'll have a look smile
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