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.
In 1996 the American Cancer Society released guidelines recommending that red meat be excluded entirely from the diet. Residues of antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and other non-degrading toxins from the environment accumulate up the food chain and into animal products. The fats stimulate the production of male hormones, which in turn spur prostate cancer cells to grow. Asians in general eat a lot of soy and scientists are crediting that food choice with easy menopause as well as lower incidences of heart disease, osteoporosis and breast and prostate cancers. This practice is promoting the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.