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A major international study suggests that swapping meat for vegetables could lower your risk of developing several common cancers, but it’s not a free pass to skip screenings or ignore other health risks.
Researchers analyzed data from over 1.8 million people across India, Taiwan, the UK and the U.S., including meat-eaters, vegetarians, pescatarians, and vegans, over 16 years. They found that vegetarians were less likely than meat-eaters to develop multiple myeloma, kidney, pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancers. The reductions ranged from about 9% for breast cancer to 31% for multiple myeloma.
“It’s really good news for vegetarians,” said Aurora Perez-Cornago, the study’s lead investigator. “Some of these cancer types are quite common, so a lower risk could make a real difference.”
However, the study also flagged a surprise: vegetarians had almost double the risk of a main type of esophageal cancer compared with meat-eaters. Researchers say this could be linked to lower intake of nutrients like vitamin B12, normally found in meat, poultry, and fish. Vegans in the study also showed a slightly higher risk of bowel cancer, though the small sample size makes the result less certain.
The findings don’t prove that going meat-free directly prevents cancer, but they do add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that diet can play a role in overall cancer risk. Experts also stress the importance of making sure vegetarian and vegan diets include enough essential nutrients.
Tim Key, co-author of the study, explained that vegetarians’ lower risks could be tied to beneficial effects on metabolism and lower blood levels of proteins linked to cancer risk.
Despite the promising numbers, researchers noted vegetarians were no less likely than omnivores to develop bowel cancer, possibly because the meat-eaters in this study didn’t consume large amounts of red or processed meat.
For anyone thinking of ditching meat entirely, the takeaway is clear: a plant-based diet may offer protection against some cancers, but it’s not a silver bullet. “Balance and proper nutrition remain key,” Perez-Cornago said.
The full study was published Friday in the British Journal of Cancer.
*Source: Financial Times
