Is Eating Meat Worse For Your Health Than Smoking?

Dr. Neal Barnard, author of Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes, was recently featured in Peta’s Animal Times Magazine. He was asked to answer the question: Which is worse for your health, smoking or eating meat? His response would probably be surprising to many meat eaters, as he said “both a pack of cigarettes and a package of meat should carry warning labels.”

Throughout the article he gives evidence to support his conclusion that both cigarettes and meat increase the risk of health problems such as cancer, strokes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. He even states that “many heart attacks never would even occur if people stopped eating meat and other animal-derived products.” A 50 year Framingham Heart Study in Massachusetts showed that having a total cholesterol level below 150 makes people almost heart attack-proof. They conclude that the best way to achieve this level is to eliminate meat, eggs, and dairy from your diet.

New evidence is also showing that many cancers are preventable. According to U.S. Government figures, thirty to sixty percent of cancers are diet related. Colon cancer in particular is closely associated with meat consumption, while ovarian and prostate cancers are linked with meat and milk consumption. Studies indicate that “vegetarians are about forty percent less likely to get cancer than nonvegetarians are, regardless of other risk factors, including body size, socioeconomic status and even smoking.”

In conclusion, Dr. Barnard states that the consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products has a comparable, if not greater, damaging health effect on people than tobacco. It is getting difficult to ignore the overwhelming evidence that a vegetarian/vegan diet has long lasting health benefits.

For more information about Dr. Neal Barnard visit his website at www.nealbarnard.org