Go veggie to cut your cholesterol

CUTTING out meat could help to prevent heart attacks and strokes, research suggests.

Researchers at Japan’s Keio University reviewed 49 studies into vegetarian and vegan diets .

Study author Susan Levin and colleagues found that switching to vegetarian or vegan diets resulted in a lowering of the total cholesterol score by 0.7. While statins can have a more powerful effect on reducing cholesterol – up to 1.8 – the authors say that for some, switching diet can remove the need for medications which can cause serious side effects.