Are vegans and vegetarians healthier than meat eaters?

WebMD addresses the rumor: Are vegetarians healthier than meat eaters? ... There are two basic kinds of vegetarian diet: lacto-ovo and strict (vegan). ... read more

Vegetarians appear to have lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes than meat eaters. Vegetarians also tend to have a lower body mass index, lower overall cancer rates and lower risk of chronic disease. read more

Vegetarian men live an average of 9.5 years longer than their meat-eating counterparts and vegetarian women an average of 6.1 years longer. In studies, carnivores had the highest body weight for their age and vegans the lowest (an average of 30 pounds lighter), with vegetarians and semi-vegetarians falling in between. read more

Austrian researchers examined the eating habits and health of 1,320 people, ranging from vegetarians to straight-up meat eaters. They found that vegetarians had higher incidences of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders than their carnivorous counterparts. read more