Vegetarians lead healthier life as compared to meat-eaters: JP Nadda

Zee Media Bureau/Udita Madan

New Delhi: The constant debate over who – vegetarians or non-vegetarians – lead a healthier life is never-ending.

However, in a statement that may put an end to the discourse, India's health minister JP Nadda on Tuesday said that vegetarians were found to lead a healthier lifestyle as compared to non-vegetarians.

A vegetarian diet helps prevent health problems like cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cancer and renal diseases, the statement said.

According to the Times of India, Nadda sent a written reply to Lok Sabha, which clearly stated that, “The benefits of vegetarian food arise from lower intake of saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein as well as higher intakes of complex carbohydrates dietary fibre, rich in micronutrients like magnesium, folic acid, Vitamin C and E, carotenoids and other phytochemicals.”

In a recent revelation, WHO's cancer research agency also declared red meat as carcinogenic.