Why Red Meat Is Bad For You

This post will aim at answering the common question among meat lovers Why Red Meat Is Bad For You?

Both red and processed meat can cause health problems in a number of ways. The cells within red meat are cancer-causing agents.

Red Meat is also high in saturated fat, a compound linked with cardiovascular disease.

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Nutritional quality of red meat

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one 3.5-ounce (oz) or 100-gram (g) serving of uncooked ground beef:

247 calories
19.07 g of fat
17.44 g of protein
1.97 milligrams (mg) of iron
274 mg of potassium
4.23 mg of zinc
2.15 micrograms of vitamin B-12

Let’s look at Why Red Meat Is Bad For You

Why Red Meat Is Bad For You

Here are 8 reasons why you should stop eating red meat now;

1. Increased Chances of Heart disease

According to the study, red meat raises the level of “bad” cholesterol in your blood and has been associated with heart disease.

High cholesterol has also been linked with insulin resistance, a condition that predisposes to diabetes and has a link to obesity.

2. Increased Chances of Type 2 diabetes

Researchers in London have found that women with a family history of type 2 diabetes have a higher likelihood of consuming excessive amounts of meat, compared with women without a family history.

The study revealed that women with an incidence of 13% or higher of a high-risk genotype are eating on average 3.6 times more red meat than the rest of the population.

3. Increased Chances of Cancer

Researchers at the International Agency for Research on Cancer identified the meat of domestic pigs and sheep as a carcinogen.

An additive found in slaughterhouses is present in the meat of all domesticated animals, including cows, pigs, and poultry.

The additive is known as “pork DNA.” Research at the American Institute for Cancer Research found that eating more than 200g of pork DNA per day doubles the risk of breast cancer.

4. Increased Chances of High blood pressure

The NHANES study found that a diet high in red and processed meat is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Hypertension affects approximately 50 million Americans. Red meat is high in saturated fat and sodium, both of which contribute to increased blood pressure.

5. Increased Chances of Cancer in the colon

Research at the University of Illinois Cancer Center suggests that eating large amounts of red meat is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, even in those with a low-risk profile.

People with the highest levels of the compound tyramine (an amino acid found in meat) had up to four times the risk of colon cancer than those with the lowest levels.

The two most common types of colon cancer are adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma, both of which are associated with dietary changes.

6. Increased Chances of Endometriosis

A 2007 study at the University of Iowa found that women with endometriosis who eat a lot of red meat and processed meat (due to its high saturated fat content) have a higher risk of endometriosis.

7. Increased Chances of Cardiovascular disease

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition tracked the eating habits of 15,000 people in the UK for ten years.

People who consumed the highest amounts of red meat (10.8g a day) had a 50% higher risk of heart disease and stroke, compared to those who ate the least amount (3.4g a day).

Red meat is a major source of saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

8. Increased Chances of Obesity

In the Heart UK study, overweight individuals were found to be three times more likely to consume high levels of red meat than lean individuals.

One-third of the population is obese. This study linked the amount of red meat consumed with the risk of obesity.

The Bottom line

Red meat is high in saturated fat and sodium, both of which can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar.

Don’t eat more than 7g of saturated fat a day, the recommended amount by the US Heart Association.

If you eat beef, pork, or lamb, look for leaner cuts with higher marbling (the pink look of the meat).

After all my research about red meat, I found out that red meat is actually bad, my humble opinion is that you stay away from red meat and eat less meat.

What other websites say about Why Red Meat Is Bad For You;

According to WebMD, Some red meats are high in saturated fat, which raises blood cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease. When it comes to cancer, the answer is not so clear. Many researchers say it does raise the risk, especially for colorectal cancer.

According to Healthline, Some observational studies show a link between meat intake, diabetes, heart disease, and death. Other studies suggest this only applies to processed meat, not unprocessed red meat.

According to medicalnewstoday, Researchers say that red meat contains important nutrients, including protein, vitamin B-12, and iron. However, there is evidence to suggest that eating a lot of red meat can raise a person’s risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and other health concerns.

According to Harvard College, Red and processed meats do increase health risks. In spite of what the Annals of Internal Medicine study suggest, Dr. Hu says that an accumulated body of evidence shows a clear link between a high intake of red and processed meats and a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and premature death. “The evidence is consistent across different studies,” he says.

According to Cleveland Clinic, Cardiovascular health data has shown time and time again that red meat is linked with high cholesterol, and in turn, increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. Consumption of less meat also is associated with decreased rates of obesity in both children and adults.