Vegetable-Rich Diet Associated With Decreased Risk For Cataracts

Reuters (4/9, Boerner) reported that, according to a study published online March 23 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who are vegans or vegetarians appear to have a 30% to 40% reduced risk for cataracts. In a study involving some 27,600 people over the age of 40, some of which were followed for about 15 years, researchers also found that people who ate more than 3.5 ounces or more of meat each day had the highest risk for developing cataracts.

Some Vegetarians May Face Increased Risk Of Heart Problems From Nutritional Deficiencies. WebMD (4/8, Doheny) reported that research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that “some vegetarians may be increasing their risk of heart problems from nutritional deficiencies in their diets.” In a “review of published articles from medical journals,” researchers “found that vegetarian diets are often lacking in some key nutrients. These include vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids.”