一项重大研究发现：素食者比肉食者的死亡率低很多。该研究结果已刊登在了美国医学协会国际医药杂志上，这也引起了人们的争论：争论越来越流行的素食饮食对支持者健康的看法。

　　The research was undertaken by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital, who monitored health and diet records of more than 130,000 people over the course of thirty years. They found every three per cent increase in calories from plant protein was found to reduce risk of death by 10 per cent. The figure rises to 12 per cent for risk of dying from heart disease.

　　马萨诸塞州综合医院的科学家进行了该项研究，他们的研究过程长达30年，在此期间监控了超过13万人的健康饮食记录。他们发现每从植物蛋白中摄入3%的卡路里，就能将死亡率减少10%，而且能降低因患有心脏病而死的几率，降低12%。

　　By contrast, raising the share of animal protein in one's diet by 10 per cent led to a two per cent higher risk of death from all causes. This increased to an eight per cent higher chance of dying from heart disease.

　　相比之下，如果多摄入10%的动物蛋白就会增加死亡率，增加2%。而因心脏病而死的几率会增加8%。

　　Substituting eggs for plant protein led to a 19 per cent reduction in death risk and eliminating unprocessed red meat saw a drop of 12 per cent.

　　如果吃鸡蛋代替植物蛋白，死亡率会减少19%，而不吃未加工过的红肉则会减少12%。

　　As would be expected, the risk was found to be most pronounced among people who also engaged in other unhealthy activities, including having a history of smoking, drinking heavily or being obese.

　　不出所料，还有其它不健康活动的那些人死亡率最高，这些活动包括：抽过烟、酗酒或肥胖。

　　However, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results, as other more complex social and environment factors could affect the results rather than being solely related to diet. For instance, vegans are more likely to be younger than the general population and therefore have much lower mortality rates. Similarly, vegans can be more likely to come from socially affluent backgrounds, which can also influence mortality risk.

　　然而，在解读结果的过程中还是应当注意，因为其它的社会和环境因素可能也会影响结果，而不单单只是因为饮食。例如，素食者往往都比普通大众更年轻，因此死亡率本身就更低。同样的，素食者往往都比较富裕，这同样也会影响死亡率。

　　Lead scientist Dr Mingyang Song said: 'Overall, our findings support the importance of the sources of dietary protein for long-term health outcomes. While previous studies have primarily focused on the overall amount of protein intake - which is important - from a broad dietary perspective, the particular foods people consume to get protein are equally important.'

　　首席科学家宋明阳（Mingyang Song）博士说道："总的来说，我们的研究结果表明饮食蛋白质的来源对于长期的健康结果十分重要。虽然早前的研究主要是关注蛋白质摄入的总量--这也是很重要的--从一个广泛的饮食观点来看，研究人们为了获得蛋白质而摄入的特定食物也一样重要。"

　　"Our findings suggest people should consider eating more plant proteins than animal proteins, and when they do choose among sources of animal protein, fish and chicken are probably better choices."

　　"我们的研究结果表明人们应该摄入更多的植物蛋白质而非动物蛋白质，当我们选择动物蛋白质来源时，鱼和鸡肉可能是更好的选择。"