New studies have shown that red meat shortens your life. It appears that this protein source is not a very healthy one.
Health fitness instructors and dietitians warn people of the consequences that red meat can have on our health.
Studies have been conducted on individuals who get their proteins mostly from red meat and on people who have a more plant based diet and get their proteins from fish and chicken. The risk of getting heart disease increases with the consumption of unprocessed red meat.
Moreover, it was proved that changing your lifestyle with a plant-based diet can lower the risk of premature death, depending on the type of meat that you substitute it with.
The probability of premature death decreased by 34 percent when people tried to replace red processed meat, 12 percent if people ate fewer eggs, and 12 percent if people ate less unprocessed meat. Interestingly, these effects have been proved to be more intense on individuals who already had obesity problems or that were heavy drinkers or smokers.
The results of these studies revealed that processed meat contains loads of nitrates and sodium that for decades have been associated with cancer and heart problems. Moreover, red meat contains a high quantity of cholesterol and saturated fats that translate into extra calories. These additional calories are related to weight problems that lead to heart diseases.
The studies have also concluded that the consumption of dairy and eggs is not as bad as eating red meat or processed foods.
Nobody says to give up entirely the consumption of processed meat, but if one has three meals a day based on red meat protein, it is highly recommended to at least try and substitute the processed red meat with chicken, fish or a plant based diet at least for a while.
Plant proteins have been proved to be healthier because they are full of antioxidants, fibers, B-vitamins, and extra healthy nutrients that, of course, have fewer calories, thus being associated with a healthier way of living. One can get plant proteins from nuts, legumes, beans, bread, and pasta, so these various sources will help obtain all the nutrients and vitamins needed for the organism.
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