Every day we read articles about how red meat consumption can affect our health. Being a meat eater these days actually means you are under a systematic, line of fire from all fronts. The vegetarians, the angry vegans, the new age synthetic meat marketeers. So it is easy to feel confused about what is really happening.
This article will present a large scale international study, whose results showed no link between cancer, diabetes or heart disease and red meat. The research concluded as a result that people have no reason to limit their red meat consumption.
14 researchers from 7 countries, headed by epidemiology professor Bradley Johnston ,from Dalhousie University, Canada studied 54,000 people for 3 years . After 12 random checks, they published their findings in the U.S. medical journal ‘Annals of internal Medicine’. Their study failed to show a statistical connection between a reduced risk of disease like cancer, diabetes and heart problems and a reduced red meat diet.
In essence , this new study has overturned the belief that if you reduce meat consumption it’s better for your health. In other words, there is no scientific reason to cut back on your favourite beef cut, sausage, jamon or bacon rasher. This is great news for meat lovers but potentially confusing for the rest. It isn’t the first time that we witness scientists turning 180 degrees on health issues.
Despite the results of this study, Dr Yiota Mitrou, head of WCRF( World cancer Research Fund ) urged that people should use their common sense and follow the current protocol. In other words, in order to avoid disease one should follow a balanced diet of up to 3 rations of red meat a week and avoid processed meat altogether.