Eating roast beef and lamb, popularly called Suya in Nigeria, increases your chances of
dying from nine major diseases, according to new research.
Red meat raises the risk of death from cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease
and diabetes, scientists have found.
Beef, lamb and pork also increase your
susceptibility of stroke, infections and kidney,
liver and lung disease.
Yet, regularly eating white meat may reverse the damage, the researchers added.
Those who frequently consume chicken and fish
are 25 per cent less likely to die from various
diseases than those who rarely eat white meat.
Results, published in the British Medical Journal, revealed that people who ate the most
red meat were 26 per cent more likely to die of
various diseases than those who consume the least.
The scientists added that heme iron, a type
only present in animal meat, may contribute to
the risk of dying from cancer or heart disease.
The researchers said: “The results show
increased risks of all cause mortality and death
due to nine different causes associated with
both processed and unprocessed red meat.
“They also show reduced risks associated with
substituting white meat, particularly unprocessed white meat. The effects of meat
on human health may be due to ingredients
such as heme iron, nitrates, and nitrites.”
They said: “High intakes of heme iron have
been shown to be associated with cancer and
cardiovascular disease. Nitrates and nitrites are
added to meat during the curing process.
“Some investigators believe that nitrates from
vegetable sources may have potential benefits,
particularly for cardiovascular health, but
nitrate/nitrite from drinking water and processed meat has been associated with
increased risks of different cancers.”
Consuming a Western diet increases the risk of
developing gout, a new study from Harvard
Medical School reveals.
Researchers have discovered that people are
more likely to have the painful condition if they
indulge in red and processed meats, soft drinks
and sugary treats.
Yet, a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts and
whole grains may protect against gout, they found.
The scientists believe healthy food helps to
lower levels of a chemical called uric acid,
which causes gout.
They hope the findings will lead to new gout
treatments based on a diet of fruit, nuts and
whole grains.
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute
in Maryland tracked the eating habits of
536,000 men and women between the ages of
50 to 71 for 16 years.
They recorded how much meat the participants
consumed, including processed and unprocessed red and white meat, as well as their fish intake.
Source: The Guardian
