Peter Singer-Animal Liberation

Many vegetariansclaimthat theyfeel fitter, healthier,and
morezestfulthanwhentheyatemeat.Agreatdealofnew
evidencenowsupportsthem.The 1988 UnitedStatesSurgeon
General’sReportonNutritionandHealthcitesamajorstudy
indicatingthatthedeathrateforheartattacksofvegetarians
between the ages of thirty-five and sixty-four is only 28
percentoftherateforAmericansingeneralinthatagegroup.
Foroldervegetarianstherateofdeathfromheartattackswas
still lessthan halfthat ofnonvegetarians. Thesame study
showedthatvegetarianswhoateeggsanddairyproductshad
cholesterollevels 16 percentlowerthanthoseofmeateaters,
and vegans had cholesterol levels 29 percent lower. The
report’smainrecommendationsweretoreduceconsumption
ofcholesterolandfat(especiallysaturatedfat),andincrease
consumption of whole grain foods and cereal products,
vegetables (including dried beans and peas) and fruits. A
recommendationtoreducecholesterolandsaturatedfatis,in
effect, a recommendation to avoid meat (except perhaps
chickenfromwhichtheskinhasbeenremoved),andcream,
butter,andallexceptlow-fatdairyproducts.^30 Thereportwas
widely criticizedfor failing to be more specific in saying
this—avaguenessdue,apparently,tosuccessfullobbyingby
groups like the National Cattlemen’s Association and the
DairyBoard.^31 Whateverlobbyingtookplacefailedhowever,
topreventthesectiononcancerfrom reportingthatstudies
havefound anassociation between breastcancerand meat
intake, and also between eating meat, especially beef,and
cancerofthelargebowel.TheAmericanHeartAssociation
hasalsobeenrecommending,formanyyears,thatAmericans
reduce their meat intake.^32 Diets designed for health and
longevitylikethePritikinplanand theMcDougallplanare
either largely or entirely vegetarian.^33