Following research by Canadian experts it is believed that a special vegetarian diet is as effective at reducing levels of the most damaging forms of cholesterol as the new generation of expensive fat-lowering drugs.
Researchers found the vegan diet cut low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which clogs arteries by almost 29 per cent, compared with the standard anti-cholesterol drug Lovastatin that dropped levels by 30.9 per cent.
The Canadian nutritionists based their recipe for cardiac health on foods such as almonds, soya, high-fibre cereals and fresh fruit and vegetables.
Professor David Jenkins, who led the project at the University of Toronto, said: 'This study shows people now have a dietary alternative to control cholesterol, at least initially.' Every year, 50,000 people in England and Wales die of cardiac disease linked to cholesterol.