Consumption of red meat has a direct link to increased risk
of heart attack, according to a new study.However, in this study, the culprit is not saturated fat, but the
carnitine that is abundant in red meat.The bacteria in the human digestive tract converts carnitine into a
little known substance called TMAO, which may be the culprit associated with
heart disease and heart attacks.After
the liver produces the TMAO, it is released into the blood stream.Increased TMAO in the blood stream is a
proven predictor of heart attack risk. TMAO allows cholesterol to penetrate artery
walls as well as prevents the elimination of excess cholesterol.
This particular study was led by Stanley Hazen of the
Cleveland Clinic, and published in Nature magazine.
Recent
studies have concluded that vegetarian diets play an important role in the production of
healthy sperm, whereas diets high in animal fat contribute to male infertility:
A diet of red meat had a negative impact on the sperm implantation rate according to a study published by Brazilian scientists in Fertility and Sterility, November 2011. This study also concluded consumers of red meat had a diminished chance of pregnancy.
A 2011 study by the Harvard School of Public Health links a
diet that includes high intakes of fruits, vegetables,
legumes, and whole grains, to healthier sperm.
Conversely, diets heavy in red meats and processed grains had a
detrimental effect on sperm motility (the ability to swim towards the egg).
A 2005 study from the University of Rochester
concluded that infertile men were twice as likely to have low intake of fruits
and vegetables compared to fertile men.
Researchers in Spain have also noted a
relationship between food intake and male infertility in a 2009 study. They
noted that frequent intake of animal fat such as milk and red meat has a
negative effect on sperm quality, whereas high consumption of fruits and
vegetables maintain and improve sperm quality.
The
causal relationship is unknown, however, scientists suspect the beneficial effects
of natural antioxidants found in whole fruits, vegetables and grains may help to keep sperm healthy.
Men
who regularly consume meat also have higher levels of PBDE, a substance used in
flame retardants, and known to cause infertility. Studies in Canada have found significant PBDE
contamination in red meat, poultry, butter, cheese and salmon.
For more information:
Environ Health
Perspect. 2009 Oct;117(10):1520-5. Epub 2009 Jun 18. Diet contributes
significantly to the body burden of PBDEs in the general U.S. population.
Fraser AJ, Webster TF, McClean MD.
MLewis V,
Kochman L, Herko R, Brewer K, Andolina E, Song G. Dietary antioxidants and
sperm quality in infertile men. Paper presented at: Annual Scientific Meeting
of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine; October, 2006; New Orleans
(Fertil Steril_ 2009;91:812–8. _2009
by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)
Image by Dinner Series via FlickrDid you know
that eating just two strips of bacon or one hot dog a day will DOUBLE your risk
of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus? A study published in 2011 by the Harvard School
of Public Health shows a very strong link between consumption of processed
meats and type 2 diabetes. This was a
huge study, consisting of 442,101 participants—almost 30,000 of which went on
to develop type 2 diabetes during the study.
Processed meats
include items such as hot dogs, packaged lunch meat, deli meats such as pastrami
and breakfast items such as sausage and bacon.
Only a single serving of one of these items a day will double-up your
odds of eventually becoming diabetic.
Even if one avoids processed meats altogether, the consumption of a single
100 gram serving (3.5 oz.) of unprocessed red meat each day, such as a
hamburger or steak, also increases diabetes risk by almost 20%. On the other
end of the scale, the Harvard study shows that replacing red and processed meat
with healthier proteins, such as nuts or whole grains, can significantly lower
the risk.
What are the
consequences of diabetes? It is the
leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and amputations of legs or feet not
due to accidental cause.
Here’s a
scary fact: According to the CDC, if
current trends hold, 1 out of 3 people will have type 2 diabetes by 2050. Just last year, almost 2 million new cases
were diagnosed. If these trends are not
reversed by shifting the world to a healthier plant-based diet, the current health
care systems will be overwhelmed.
Type 2 is the
most common type of diabetes accounting for 90-95% of all cases. It is caused
when the body loses its ability to produce and use insulin, which is the
hormone that converts sugars into energy. When this happens, glucose and fats
remain in the blood, and over time will cause the body to degenerate.
It is suspected
that the nitrates used to preserve processed meats as well as the higher
amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol in both processed and unprocessed red
meat are responsible for triggering type 2 diabetes.
There seems
to be an ongoing controversy regarding the role of a diet high in animal protein and bone health. There have
been several recent studies that elaborate on this topic. However, in sifting through the scientific
literature, it is a well-established fact that protein does cause the body to
lose calcium. One study in particular, the
Harvard Nurses Health Study, found that those who consumed five or more servings
of red meat per week had significantly increased fracture risk. Those who received their protein from plant
sources had no increased risk. (Protein Consumption and Bone Fractures in
Women, Feskanich et al. 1996, American
Journal of Epidemiology, 143, 472).
The
question is—does plant protein have the same bone-robbing effect as animal
protein? Some studies, as the one
mentioned above, show that plant protein does not increase the risk of
fractures but there are contradictory studies on this subject. Some of the confusion and controversy about
animal protein vs. plant protein and bone loss is partly due to the fact that
the meat, milk, egg, and feed-crop production industries support many of these
papers through grants. It is not surprising that the conclusion of papers sponsored
by these self-serving industries contain biased opinions about the superiority
of animal protein.
In
reality, there are many ingredients that go into the making of healthy bones—not
just protein. The alkalizing effects of
a diet plentiful in fruits and vegetables offset the calcium-stealing effects
of protein. To that end, vegetarians
need to include in their diet foods rich in calcium and other essential minerals,
make sure vitamin D levels are high, and there is increasing evidence that
weight-bearing exercises are especially important in keeping bones healthy and
strong.
