The Dangerous Red Meat Health Connection

In the largest study of its kind, involving over half a million men and women, older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat like beef, pork and lamb, as well as processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts were found to have a greater risk of death from either heart disease or cancer, making it a dangerous red meat health connection.

This study supports the long-standing advice of other experts to limit both these kinds of meats, and appears in the March 23, 2009 Archives of Internal Medicine.

545,000 subjects were included in the study, aged 50 to 71 years old, recruited from AARP members as part of the National Institutes of Health Diet and Health Study, and asked about their dietary habits.

The results did rely on subjects remembering what they ate, and this isn’t always accurate. Also, the pool of subjects was drawn from a group thought to be healthier than other Americans, which means the findings might not apply to everyone, but they are certainly representative.

Over 70,000 of the participants died during the decade long study, and the researchers made adjustments in the study results to account for other risk factors like smoking, high BMI (body mass index) and family history of cancer in their analysis.

The findings however, even when taking these aspects into account, paint a damning picture for red and processed meat.

The equivalent of eating a quarter pound hamburger daily gave a 22% higher risk of dying from cancer; 27% higher risk of dying from heart disease when compared to subjects who ate just 5 ounces of meat a week.

Women whose diet included more red meat had a 20% higher risk of dying of cancer; 50% higher risk of dying of heart disease than women who ate less of this type of meat.

This consumption level might seem pretty high. In 2003-2004, the most recent year’s statistics are available, on average adults ate 2.5 ounces of red meat each day.

“The consumption of red meat was associated with a modest increase in total mortality,” said Rashmi Sinha, lead author of the study.

Processed meats carried slightly lower overall risks than red meat according to the research.

Alsopeople whose diets had more white meat (chicken and fish) were found to have lower risks of death.

“This fits together with the findings of the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Cancer Society, which recommend limiting the consumption of red meat,” added Sinha, who is a senior investigator with the nutrition epidemiological branch at the Cancer Institute.

So, why are excessive amounts of red meat bad for our bodies?

Sadly, the research has not pinned down the answer quite yet.

Some experts suggest the trouble might come from the fat and iron in the meats, others the salt, nitrates/nitrites of processed meats.

In addition, when meat is overcooked (especially fried or charbroiled) at high temperatures substances which are mutagenic or even carcinogenic are created.

Another argument for reducing the amount of red meat consumed?

Livestock contribute to greenhouse gas emissions that have been implicated in global warming.

Barry Popkin, who wrote an accompanying editorial to the study, suggests, “We’ve promoted a diet that has added excessively to global warming.”

Most experts state that meat should not be stripped totally from your diet, but rather become a supporting part of meals along with other healthy options.

Choosing fish, poultry or beans as an alternative to the red meats is a great option. Leaner cuts can also be part of a healthy diet, and according to the American Meat Institute are an excellent source of iron, B12 and zinc, as well as other essential vitamins and minerals.

So, don’t let the link between red meat and health be your downfall. Talk to your doctor about how you can introduce a healthier diet.

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