JUNE 26 to July 2 is National Vegetarian Week, when a lot of people think about changing their diet for a few days for the sake of their health.

However, if we gave more than a passing thought to what we are doing to our bodies, we may well decide that every week should be a Vegetarian Week.

There are many reasons for not eating animals and compassion for them is one reason that persuades thousands of people to change the way they eat.

But whatever your conscience tells you, medical research now shows that we - and I especially mean the junk food generation - really ought to follow our heart in this crucial matter.

Coronary heart disease kills more people in Britain than anything else.

Too many people aid and abet their own death because of what they eat.

Medical science shows that if they simply switched to a vegetarian diet they could live longer.

This is not some fanciful theory. These are scientific findings based on years of clinical research.

Many people know there's a heart risk from a meaty diet, but they think you need meat to give you protein.

No, you don't. Eggs, cheese, nuts, beans and soya-based foods will give you more than enough of it.

If not for ourselves, for our kids' sake I urge you to consider making a change for National Vegetarian Week.

For more information contact The Vegetarian Society on 0161 925 2000 or at www.vegsoc.org or write to the address below.

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY, Patron, The Vegetarian Society, Parkdale, Dunham Road, Altrincham WA14 4QG.