Washington, July 5 (ANI): Vegetarian diets can help prevent and treat chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes, according to a report.

The report was written by Winston Craig, PhD, MPH, RD, professor and chair of the department of nutrition and wellness at Andrews University; and Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, nutrition advisor at the Vegetarian Resource Group, Baltimore, Md.

Vegetarian diets are often associated with health advantages including lower blood cholesterol levels, lower risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure levels and lower risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

“Vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates,” Science Daily qioted Craig as saying.

Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and have higher levels of dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, vitamins C and E, folate, carotenoids, flavonoids and other phytochemicals.

These nutritional differences may explain some of the health advantages of those following a varied, balanced vegetarian diet,” Craig added.

The report has been published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. (ANI)