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STUDIES on monks from a Buddhist monastery have shown that blood from
vegetarians is unusually rich in salicylic acid, a component of aspirin
considered protective against heart disease and some cancers. John Paterson of
the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary says that the finding might help to
explain why vegetarians are less likely to develop these illnesses. Fruit,
vegetables, herbs and spices contain the most salicylic acid. Blood
concentrations in the vegetarian monks were 12-fold higher than in meat-eaters.
“The message is to stick to a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veg,” says
Paterson, whose results appear in…