Saturated Fat

Percent of adult daily value for saturated fat in one Double Whopper with cheese: 130 percent.

Percentage of eight-year-old child's daily value for saturated fat in one Double Whopper with cheese: More than 200 percent.

Cholesterol

Drop in heart disease risk for every 1 percent decrease in blood cholesterol: 3-4 percent.

Blood cholesterol levels of vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians: 14 percent lower.

Risk of death from heart disease for vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians: Half.

Blood cholesterol levels of vegans (vegetarians who eat no meat, eggs, or dairy products) compared to non-vegetarians: 35 percent lower.

Intake of cholesterol for non-vegetarians: 300-500 milligrams/day.

Intake of cholesterol for lacto-ovo vegetarians (vegetarians who eat dairy and eggs): 150-300 milligrams/day.

Intake of cholesterol for vegans: Zero.

Average cholesterol level in the United States: 210.

Average cholesterol level of U.S. vegetarians: 161.

Average cholesterol level of U.S. vegans: 133.

Blood Pressure

Most common problem for which people go to the doctors in the United States: High blood pressure.

Ideal blood pressure: 110/70 or less (without medication).

Average blood pressure of vegetarians: 112/69.

Average blood pressure of non-vegetarians: 121/77.

Definition of high blood pressure: The top number (systolic) is consistently over 140, or the bottom number (diastolic) is consistently over 90, while the person is at rest.

Incidence of high blood pressure in meat eaters compared to vegetarians: Nearly triple.

Incidence of very high blood pressure in meat eaters compared to vegetarians: 13 times higher.

Patients with high blood pressure who achieve substantial improvement by switching to a vegetarian diet: 30-75 percent.

What patients are typically told when prescribed medications for high blood pressure: "You'll probably need to take these for the rest of your life."

Patients with high blood pressure who are able too completely discontinue use of medications after adopting a low-sodium, low-fat, high-fiber vegetarian diet: 58 percent.

Incidence of high blood pressure among senior citizens in the United States: More than 50 percent.

Incidence of high blood pressure among senior citizens in countries eating traditional low-fat plant based diets: Virtually none.

Preventing Cancer

Death rate from breast cancer in the United States: 22.4 (per 100,000).

Death rate from breast cancer in Japan: 6.3 (per 100,000).

Death rate from breast cancer in China: 4.6 (per 100,000).

Primary reason for difference: People in China and Japan eat more fruits and vegetables and less animal products, weigh less, drink less alcohol, and get more exercise than people in the United States

Breast cancer rate for affluent Japanese women who eat meat daily compared to poorer Japanese women who rarely or never eat meat: 8.5 times greater.

Impact of breast cancer risk for adult women who are 45 pounds overweight: double.

Most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide: Lung cancer.

Impact on risk of lung cancer for people who frequently eat green, orange, and yellow vegetables: 20-60 percent reduction

The vegetable with the strongest protective effect: Carrot

Impact on risk of lung cancer among people who consume a lot of apples, bananas, and grapes: 40 percent reduction.

Most common cancer among American men: Prostate cancer.

Risk of prostate cancer for men who consume high amounts of dairy products: 70 percent increase

Risk of prostate cancer for men who consume soymilk daily: 70 percent reduction

Risk of prostate cancer for men with low blood levels of beta-carotene: 45 percent increase

Best sources of beta-carotene: Carrots, sweet potatoes, yams.

Risk of prostate cancer for men whose diet is abundant with lycopene-rich foods: 45 percent reduction.

Best sources of lycopene: Tomatoes.

Amount of beta-carotene and lycopene in meats, dairy products, and egg: None.

Risk of prostate cancer for men whose intake of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, mustard greens, turnips) is high: 41 percent

American men who are aware of a link between animal products and prostate cancer: 2 percent

Number of lives lost to colon cancer each year in the United States: 55,000

Risk of colon cancer for women who eat red meat daily compared to those who eat it less than once a month: 250 percent greater

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat red meat once a week compared to those who abstain: 38 percent.

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat poultry once a week compared to those who abstain: 55 percent.

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat poultry four times a week compared to those who abstain: 200-300 percent greater.

Risk of colon cancer for people who eat beans, peas, or lentils at least twice a week compared to people who avoid these foods: 50 percent lower.

Impact on risk for colon cancer when diets are rich in the B-vitamin folic acid: 75 percent lower.

Primary food sources of folic acid: Dark green leafy vegetables, beans, and peas.

Americans who are aware that eating less meat reduces colon cancer risk: 2 percent.

Americans killed annually by diseases due to excess weight: 280,000.

Increased risk of heart disease for obese people: Double to triple.

Increased risk of gallstones for obese people: Double to triple.

Increased risk of colon cancer for obese people: Triple to quadruple.

Increased risk of diabetes for very obese people: 40 times greater.

Obesity rate among the general U.S. population: 18 percent.

Obesity rate among vegetarians: 6 percent.

Obesity rate among vegans: 2 percent.

Average weight of vegan adults compared to non-vegetarian adults: 10-20 pounds lighter.

U.S. Children who are overweight or obese: 25 percent.

U.S. vegetarian children who are overweight or obese: 8 percent.

U.S. children who eat the recommended levels of fruits, vegetables, and grains: 1 percent.

U.S. vegan children who eat the recommended levels of fruits, vegetables, and grains: 50 percent.

Fat in a single foil-packaged restaurant serving of butter: 6 grams.

Fat in a Burger King Whopper: 40 grams.

Fat in a Double Whopper with cheese: 67 grams.

Fat in the average veggie burger found in U.S. supermarkets and natural food stores: 3 grams.