Red meat consumption was associated with a higher risk of early death.

Uncooked



Scientists said Monday that eating red meat was associated with an increased… (Mark Boster / Los Angeles…)





Red meat: What makes it unhealthy?
 By Eryn Brown, Los Angeles Times / for the Booster Shots blog



On Monday, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health released study results showing that red meat consumption was associated with a higher risk of early death. The more red meat -- beef, pork or lamb, for the purposes of the research -- study participants reported they ate, the more likely they were to die during the period of time that data collection took place (more than 20 years).

What is it in red meat that might make it unhealthy?

No one is sure, exactly, but the authors of the Harvard study mention a few possible culprits in their paper in the Archives of Internal Medicine. (see below)

First, eating red meat has been linked to the incidence of heart disease.
The saturated fat and cholesterol in beef, pork and lamb are believed to play a role in the risk of coronary heart disease. The type of iron found in red meat, known as heme iron, has also been linked to heart attacks and fatal heart disease. Sodium in processed meats may increase blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Other chemicals that are used in processed meats may play a role in heart disease as well, by damaging blood vessels.

Red meat has also been linked to increased risks of colorectal and other cancers. 
Again, heme iron could be a culprit — it is more easily absorbed into the body than other forms of iron, and can cause oxidative damage to cells — as could compounds that are created when meat is cooked at a high temperature. Preservatives used in processed meats also may play a role, scientists have said, because they convert into carcinogenic compounds in the body.




source:  http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/14/news/la-heb-red-meat-why-bad-20120314



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ABSTRACT

Red Meat Consumption and Mortality Results From 2 Prospective Cohort Studies

Background  Red meat consumption has been associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. However, its relationship with mortality remains uncertain.

Conclusions  Red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of total, CVD, and cancer mortality. 

Substitution of other healthy protein sources for red meat is associated with a lower mortality risk.


Source:  http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1134845