Thought this was interesting. Not a new story but I just found it. It was originally published last year.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...-diet-changes-human-dna-raising-risk-of-canc/
Long term vegetarian diet changes human DNA raising risk of cancer and heart disease
Populations who have had a primarily vegetarian diet for generations carried a genetic mutation which raised risk of cancer and heart disease Credit: Cultura
Long term vegetarianism can lead to genetic mutations which raise the risk of heart disease and cancer, scientists have found.
Populations who have had a primarily vegetarian diet for generations were found to be far more likely to carry DNA which makes them susceptible to inflammation.
Scientists in the US believe that the mutation occured to make it easier for vegetarians to absorb essential fatty acids from plants.
But it has the knock-on effect of boosting the production of arachidonic acid, which is linked to inflammatory disease and cancer. When coupled with a diet high in vegetable oils - such as sunflower oil - the mutated gene quickly turns fatty acids into dangerous arachidonic acid.
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