| A recent study involving over half a million men and | | | | meat per day. |
| women found that older Americans who eat large | | | | Processed meats carried slightly lower overall risks |
| amounts of red meat like beef, pork and lamb, as well | | | | than red meat according to the research. |
| as processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and cold | | | | Also important to note, people whose diets had more |
| cuts have a greater risk of death from either heart | | | | white meat (chicken and fish) were found to have |
| disease or cancer, making it a dangerous red meat | | | | lower risks of death. |
| health connection. The researchers looked at over | | | | Just why are red meats so bad for our bodies? |
| 545,000 subjects aged 50 to 71 years old and asked | | | | No one has pinned down the answer quite yet. |
| about their eating habits. | | | | Some experts believe the trouble might come from |
| The results did rely on subjects remembering what | | | | the iron and fat in the meats, others blame the salt, |
| they ate, and this isn't always accurate. Also, the pool | | | | nitrates/nitrites of processed meats. |
| of subjects was drawn from a group thought to be | | | | Not only that, when meat is cooked (especially fried or |
| healthier than other Americans, which means the | | | | charbroiled) at high temperatures substances are |
| findings might not apply to everyone, but they are | | | | created that can be mutagenic or even carcinogenic. In |
| certainly representative. | | | | other words - trouble. |
| Over 70,000 of the subjects died during the decade | | | | Another argument for cutting out the red meats? |
| long study, and the researchers accounted for risk | | | | Livestock contribute to greenhouse gas emissions that |
| factors like smoking, high BMI (body mass index) and | | | | have been implicated in global warming. |
| family history of cancer in their analysis. | | | | Most experts suggest that meat should not be |
| Still the findings point an accusing finger at red and | | | | eliminated entirely from your diet, but rather become a |
| processed meats. | | | | supporting part of meals along with other healthy |
| Eating a quarter pound hamburger daily gave a 22% | | | | options. |
| higher risk of dying from cancer; 27% higher risk of | | | | Choose fish, poultry or beans as an alternative to the |
| dying from heart disease as compared to subjects | | | | red meats. Leaner cuts can also be part of a healthy |
| who ate just 5 ounces of meat a week. | | | | diet, and according to the American Meat Institute are |
| Women who ate a lot of red meat had a 20% higher | | | | an excellent source of iron, B12 and zinc, as well as |
| risk of dying of cancer; 50% higher risk of dying of | | | | other essential vitamins and minerals. |
| heart disease than women who ate less of this type | | | | If you have risk factors for heart disease or cancer, |
| of meat. | | | | you'll want to talk to your own doctor to find out what |
| This consumption level might seem pretty extreme, | | | | diet and lifestyle changes you can make to today to |
| and perhaps not what most of us eat each day. In | | | | help keep your body healthy and disease free. Don't let |
| 2003-2004, the most recent year's statistics are | | | | the link between red meat and health be your downfall. |
| available, adults on average ate 2.5 ounces of red | | | | |