Red Meat and Processed Meat Can Kill You

By: Paul Smythe Click author's name for more of his/her articles

It’s very bad news for all red meat and processed meat lovers. The largest study about the co-relation between eating red and processed meat and a person’s longevity shows that regular red and processed meat eaters are at a 30% greater risk of premature death.

The killer unmasked

For purposes of clarity, red meat is the term used for meat that is red-colored when raw. This includes beef, pork and lamb. Meanwhile, the term processed meat is used for meat that has been prepared with preservatives to ensure the long shelf-life of the meat. This includes such staples as hotdogs, cold cuts, sausages, hams and hamburgers.

The scary truth

The study, which had over five hundred thousand participants, recorded their levels of red meat consumption diligently. The study closely monitored the health of the participants throughout the years, noting any illnesses reported and recording the timing of their deaths.

The amount of red and processed meat consumed by the participants ranged from less than an ounce to about four ounces per day. The frequency of consumption ranged from weekly to daily.

The results were consistent with previous studies that show the adverse effect of regular consumption of red and processed meat. Out of the nearly half a million people monitored over a period of ten years, 71,252 died prematurely due to the intake of excessive red and processed meat. 67 percent of those who suffered from premature death were men, and majority suffered from cancer or cardiovascular disease.

By comparison, participants who were on a plant-based diet had few incidents of cardiovascular disease. This is consistent with other studies that show that a vegetable-based diet is best for the heart.

A troubling finding is that middle-aged Americans who eat a small hamburger everyday are 10 times more likely to die within the next ten years due to health problems.

A similar study called the Oxford Vegetarian Study monitored 15,000 subjects. At the end of the study, it was discovered that meat eaters were twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Not only that, they were also at a sixty percent greater risk of suffering from cancer. It is interesting to note though, that according to the studies mentioned above, red meat eaters also tend to be overweight. They are more likely to be smokers and tend to eat less fruits and vegetables than the rest of the group.

The solution

Red meat isn’t all bad. After all, it is a great source of protein. It also has minerals like phosphorus and zinc, as well as vitamins like B12, riboflavin and niacin. The key is to reduce the frequency and serving size of red meat, and to serve it with lots of vegetables and fruits to negate or lessen its negative effects. Train yourself to eat more white meat (such as chicken, duck or fish) or to go for meat substitutes like tofu.

So the next time you want to host an outdoor barbecue at your backyard, think again. Instead of placing the usual hotdogs, steaks and hamburgers on the grill, you might want to try grilling fish, chicken or vegetables instead.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: BodyShop4Less are a leading supplier of beauty and nutritional supplements such as Fake Bake Lotion and Nuphedrine. If you are looking for bodybuilding supplements such as Maximuscle Cyclone then try out Supplement Centre.