Chew on this

As the horsemeat scandal rages, many meat-eaters will be wondering exactly what they’ve been consuming.

And if you’re a vegetarian, recent events will probably leave you more convinced than ever that you made the right choice.

New research has shown vegetarians are a third less likely to suffer from heart disease than meat eaters, statistics that will make a meat-free diet a more attractive proposition for some.

However, dietitians will quickly point out that vegetarians may be low in certain essential vitamins and minerals, and that lean red meat is an important part of a healthy diet. But do we really need meat to be healthy, or is the modern human better suited to a vegetarian diet?

A study from the University of Oxford has found the risk of heart disease is 32% lower in vegetarians than people who eat meat and fish. It tracked almost 45,000 volunteers from the 1990s until 2009. It found vegetarians had lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as lower body mass index and fewer cases of diabetes.

Dr Francesca Crowe, lead author of the study, said: “Most of the difference in risk is probably caused by effects on cholesterol and blood pressure, and shows the important role of diet in the prevention of heart disease.”

However, other studies have found that the benefits attributed to the vegetarian lifestyle are linked to increased levels of physical activity, no smoking and little alcohol, as well as positive dietary attributes such as more fruit, vegetables, beans and pulses.

And while meat is indeed higher in saturated fats and lower in the healthier omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, many vegetarians continue to eat cheese, butter and cream which are all high in saturated fat.

Furthermore, vegan diets, which contain no animal products at all, tend to be low in all fats, and opportunities for getting enough vitamin B12 and B6, iron, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids are all reduced, as these nutrients are mainly found in animal products.

Vegetarian diets are healthy as long as a variety of foods are eaten, but dietitians warn it’s harder to reach certain recommended nutrient intakes, although this can sometimes be overcome by taking a supplement.

Dietitian Helen Bond says while research shows the benefits of vegetarianism, everyone should be trying to eat a healthy balanced diet, and that can include meat.

“We know fruits and vegetables are associated with lower risk of lots of diseases including cancer and heart disease,” she says. “But I don’t think meat is bad, it’s just a question of what meat you’re choosing. My advice would be to cut down on processed meat, and eat no more than 70g of cooked red meat a day.”