To put a number on it–they are 32 percent less likely to have heart-related diseases and end up dead because of them.

According to a recent Oxford study, “vegetarians had lower blood pressures and cholesterol levels than non-vegetarians, which is thought to be the main reason behind their reduced risk of heart disease.”

And this should surprise you why? They don’t eat beef, which is considered one of the top 10 high cholesterol foods to avoid. The study–considered the largest sampling of vegetarians ever studied–tracked 45,000 vegetarians in the UK for over a decade. The results have prompted researchers to draw the conclusion that those who switch to a vegetarian diet, providing they also include dietary restrictions against junk foods and don’t do other stupid things like smoke, can reduce their risk of heart disease by a third.

Heart disease remains the number killer in developed countries.