An umbrella review of two decades of research found that certain types of vegetarian diets have significant effects in lowering the risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease, and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. The review said these diets provide a “protective effect” against liver, lung, colon, pancreas, prostate, and bladder cancer, among others, in addition to reducing the risks of high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The researchers, led by Dr. Angelo Capodici of Italy’s Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, reviewed 48 metanalyses that studied the health impact of vegetarian diets that totally excluded meat, poultry, and fish. The review concentrated on lacto-vegetarian (diet that allows dairy products such as milk and cheese), ovo-vegetarian (diet that allows eggs and egg-based foods such as mayonnaise and egg noodles), and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets.
According to the review, these plant-based diets affect risk factors such as systolic and diastolic measurements of blood pressure, body mass index, and fasting glucose. In addition, these diets reduce cholesterol and C-reactive protein, which are linked with metabolic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
