Vegetarian Diets reduce Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Researchers have shown that vegetarians are less likely to show Metabolic syndrome symptoms. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of diseases that contribute to cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. In the study 23 out of 100 vegetarians were found to have 3 or more metabolic symptoms compared with 39 out of non vegetarians. Research showed vegetarians to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) or 25.7 while non vegetarians had a BMI 0f around 30. Normal BMI is between 18 and 25. A vegetarian diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attack, obesity, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer. In the study vegetarians were defined as people eating meat less than once a month.