Shops hoping for a Christmas lift are likely to be disappointed because spending will stagnate as the recession bites, market research firm Mintel is predicting.

    Christmas retail sales this year will stagnate, showing 0% growth--a marked contrast to the average 5% growth in seasonal spending seen each year since the start of the millennium.

    Since 2000 Christmas spending has grown by five per cent per year on average, according to the firm. Last year it grew slightly, despite predictions it would stall.

    But now the looming recession means people are looking to have a "much less indulgent" festive season, according to Richard Perks, Mintel's director of retail and financial research.

    He said: "There is always a lot of emotional pressure to spend money and spoil everyone over the festive season, and during the years of unprecedented boom time, many Brits enjoyed lavish Christmases. But this year, as budgets tighten, Christmas will become a much less indulgent affair.

    Mintel's research found that nearly half of people (41 per cent) said they will be spending less this year--almost double the 22 per cent who said that last year.

    Just 20% say they will still splash out at Christmas even though money is tight, a significant drop on last year's 32%.

    Only those young enough to be unburdened by mortgages and other financial commitments are likely to continue spending freely, according to Mintel's research.

    Mr Perks said: "Shops that target the under 25s, such as young fashion, games and those that sell small electricals, should do relatively well this Christmas in comparison to other markets."

    "As a result, many retailers will be looking for ways to encourage people to part with their cash, and so we're likely to see discounting and end-of-year sales start before Christmas."

    与食肉者相比，素食者较少超重。然而，这并不意味着不食肉是控制体重的关键。无论食肉或不食肉，只要摄入大量蔬果，以取代甜食、高脂快餐、高糖饮料和酒，都有利于控制体重。

    素食对心脏保健的主要好处之一，就是这些膳食中含有较低的升胆固醇饱和脂肪，但这不意味着人要保持健康，就必须完全不吃肉。摄入适量鱼、去皮的家禽，甚至精瘦红肉等食物，都不会增加太多的饱和脂肪。

    升胆固醇转化脂肪也是需要考虑的问题。如果“素食”多为油炸食品或高脂肪食品，那样一点也不利健康。

    有研究已发现，食牛羊肉者患结肠癌的危险较大，但是《欧洲临床营养学杂志》的一篇最新报告质疑了这种联系。虽然癌症或心脏病的发生与腌肉、香肠、肥肉和能形成致癌物的高温肉制品有关，但这也不能肯定所有的肉、鱼和家禽都具有危险。

    AICR认为，素食可以减少患某些癌症的危险，但适量吃肉和其它动物食品的人也可能得到素食的健康好处，前提要摄入大量的蔬菜、水果、谷类和豆类。这一结论可能也适用于素食对心脏的保健和其它健康好处。重要的不仅仅是你不吃什么，而是你吃了什么。