Plant foods are loaded with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E. and beta-carotene that have been shown to inhibit cancer in a number of ways. Plants also contain phytochemicals like isoflavones and lycopene, some of which have been shown to inhibit cancer cell and tumor growth directly. These phytochemicals are not found in animal foods.
Animal foods contain compounds that raise the risk for cancer.
Chicken is higher than red meat in heterocyclic amines, which are compounds that directly increase cancer risk. Vegetarians have lower death rates from cancer, specifically colon and lung cancer. Vegetarian women have lower blood levels of estrogen, which may help to protect them from breast cancer. The risk of heart disease is linked to diets high in saturated fat, which is found mostly in animal foods and processed foods. Heart disease is much less common among vegetarian men, with vegans having the lowest risk of all.