Steak is back on the menu, if a new review of risks of red meat is to be believed

By Kate Kelland

 

FILE PHOTO: A customer eats a ribeye steak at a restaurant in Mexico City, Mexico July 23, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero/File Photo

 

LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Cutting back on red and processed meat brings few if any health benefits, according to a review of studies involving millions of people, a finding that contradicts dietary advice of leading international agencies and raised immediate objections from many health experts.

 

Most people can continue to eat red and processed meat at current average intake, typically three or four times a week for adults in North America and Europe, said a study's authors, who also made new recommendations based on the analysis.

 

"Based on the research, we cannot say with any certainty that eating red or processed meat causes cancer, diabetes or heart disease," said Bradley Johnson, an associate professor at Dalhousie University in Canada who co-led the review published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal.

 

However, in what amounts to a scientific food fight, a group of doctors from Harvard, Yale, Stanford and elsewhere, including one of the study authors, requested in a letter to the journal that it “pre-emptively retract publication” of the papers pending further review, and said revised guidelines that could lead to increased consumption of red and processed meats would be irresponsible.

 

Steak is back on the menu, if a new scientific review is to be believed. A group of experts from around the world say there's not a lot of evidence that red and processed meats cause cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. But their study has already sparked fierce backlash from doctors. Ryan Brooks reports.

 

A statement scheduled for publication by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shared with Reuters by Dr. Frank Hu, chair of the Department of Nutrition, said, "from a public health point of view, it is irresponsible and unethical to issue dietary guidelines that are tantamount to promoting meat consumption, even if there is still some uncertainty about the strength of the evidence.”

 

Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center at the Yale University School of Medicine, cited "grave concerns about the potential for damage to public understanding, and public health.”

 

The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) both say red and processed meat may or can cause cancer.

 

The WCRF advises eating only "moderate amounts" of red meat, such as beef, pork and lamb - with an upper limit of 500 grams (17.6 ounces) cooked weight per week - and "little, if any" processed meat.

 

A panel of experts writing in The Lancet in January outlined an "ideal diet" for human health and the planet that said global average red meat consumption should be cut by 50% and consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables and legumes should double.

 

For the latest analysis, researchers from Canada, Spain and Poland conducted a series of reviews of both randomized controlled trials and observational studies looking at the possible health impact of eating red and processed meat.

 

Among the randomised trials they selected for analysis, which included around 54,000 people, they found no statistically significant link between eating meat and the risk of heart disease, diabetes, or cancer.

 

Among the observational studies, which covered millions of people, they did find "a very small reduction in risk" in those who ate three fewer servings of red or processed meat a week, but said that this association "was very uncertain."

 

BEST APPROACH

"Our bottom line recommendation ... is that for the majority of people, but not everyone, continuing their red and processed meat consumption is the best approach," Johnson said.

 

Some experts not directly involved with the reviews said the work was a comprehensive, well-conducted analysis of the available evidence on eating meat and human health.

 

"This study will, I hope, help to eliminate the incorrect impression ... that some meat products are as carcinogenic as cigarette smoke, and to discourage dramatic media headlines claiming that ‘bacon is killing us’," said Ian Johnson, a nutrition expert at Britain's Quadram Institute of bioscience.

 

Christine Laine, editor in chief of Annals of Internal Medicine, noted that nutrition studies are challenging as they are usually not randomized controlled trials and often depend on participants’ memories.

 

“There may be lots of reasons to decrease meat in your diet, but if you’re decreasing it to improve your health, we don’t have a lot of strong evidence to support that," Laine said. "To be honest with our patients and the public, we shouldn’t be making recommendations that sound like they’re based on solid evidence.”

 

Quadram's Johnson said people who choose to cut down their meat intake might still improve their health by doing so. "There are (also) strong environmental and ethical arguments for reducing meat consumption in the modern world." 

 

Eating more plant-based foods can help to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, scientists say.

 

(Reporting by Kate Kelland, additional reporting by Linda Carroll in Mannington, N.J.; editing by Gareth Jones and Bill Berkrot)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-01

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Everything in moderation......including moderation.

Life is a terminal disease!

Don't forget folks if one listens to everything said by the experts one starts to die as soon as we are born plus they keep changing their minds on what is good or not good for you; so just live life and enjoy for how ever long you are here..!!! LOL

The wheat, corn and soy processed food cartel doesn't agree. 

don't take health advise from a populist news paper of site...

 

so they compare toxic hotdogs with grass fed beef steak ?

1 minute ago, justin case said:

don't take health advise from a populist news paper of site...

 

so they compare toxic hotdogs with grass fed beef steak ?

I think processed meat is almost plant based anyway ????

I'm sure as long as you don't eat an entire cow every week you will be fine. 

The vegans will be spewing in their lentil soup!

Fake news!

 

They just discovered a human gene mutation preventing humans from digesting one ingredient found mostly in red meat. It then stays in the blood causing inflammation that leads to fat deposits and atherosclerosis.   No other animal including monkeys have this problem nor do they get human type heart attacks. They lie.

 

Evolutionary gene loss helps explain why only humans are prone to heart attacks

 

It's not difficult to find scientific, valid research showing that animal protein and saturated fat (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) all contribute to heart disease, cancer, diabetes etc. A plant-based starch diet of potato, sweet potato, rice, corn, legumes, pumpkin, squash is the healthiest diet on the planet. There are areas on earth, called "blue zones" (Okinawa), where people eat primarily plant-based that show most of these people living to age 100+. It's no secret. We've been lied to by Big Food, Big Pharma, the medical community etc for 100 years. Look at the incidence of cancer and heart disease in areas where they don't consume meat. They were disease free until McDonalds came along. Dr. John McDougal, Dr. Colin Campbell and many others have spent the last 50 years researching nutrition and can show studies convicting animal protein of most disease and early death that afflicts western society. Take some time and invest in your health. Check out the websites showing plant-based diets. I am 76 and can personally attest to the benefits. I exercise 6 days/week and my BP (110/70) and cholesterol (153) are those of a 20 year old. Don't listen to those that say "a real man eats meat". Well, a "real man" also gets cut open for heart disease and dies of cancer early too. 

Al these studies are so annoying. Today this tomorrow that. Think about 0.1% is correct.

 

Looks like only thing what is unhealthy is being born in the first place.

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm sure as long as you don't eat an entire cow every week you will be fine. 

I am working on giving that a red hot go.

I see the "scientists" invested in red meat is bad are trying to suppress publication....."sorry, your conclusions don't match with our narrative truth".....a bit disgusting really.

2 hours ago, howbri said:

It's not difficult to find scientific, valid research showing that animal protein and saturated fat (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) all contribute to heart disease, cancer, diabetes etc. A plant-based starch diet of potato, sweet potato, rice, corn, legumes, pumpkin, squash is the healthiest diet on the planet. There are areas on earth, called "blue zones" (Okinawa), where people eat primarily plant-based that show most of these people living to age 100+. It's no secret. We've been lied to by Big Food, Big Pharma, the medical community etc for 100 years. Look at the incidence of cancer and heart disease in areas where they don't consume meat. They were disease free until McDonalds came along. Dr. John McDougal, Dr. Colin Campbell and many others have spent the last 50 years researching nutrition and can show studies convicting animal protein of most disease and early death that afflicts western society. Take some time and invest in your health. Check out the websites showing plant-based diets. I am 76 and can personally attest to the benefits. I exercise 6 days/week and my BP (110/70) and cholesterol (153) are those of a 20 year old. Don't listen to those that say "a real man eats meat". Well, a "real man" also gets cut open for heart disease and dies of cancer early too. 

You believe what you like and what the so called experts say there's no 100% proof of what they are Preaching. if there's no 100% proof I won't believe anything.   

Follow the money and you will find who wanted this study outcome and their motivation for doing so.

who cares, i love a good steak and its an occasional indulgence.

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

I see the "scientists" invested in red meat is bad are trying to suppress publication....."sorry, your conclusions don't match with our narrative truth".....a bit disgusting really.

In all such matters, follow the money. Who loses/gains bigtime if a significant number believe and act upon the factoids. History shows that money has more to do with research results than does truth. 

Everything is bad for you. it just depends on who you ask. I'm a carnivore through and through.

17 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Everything is bad for you. it just depends on who you ask. I'm a carnivore through and through.

Me too I'm alternating keto/carnivore. Been vegetarian too for 3 years. Grain and starch make gain weight, spike my blood sugar and give me heartburn. I have way more energy on a meat and fat based diet. 

I never considered  red  meat  to be "off" my diet anyway.

Anyway (apologies  to the   vege  heads)  I am allergic to lentils.

I don't believe it. ????

7 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Don't forget folks if one listens to everything said by the experts one starts to die as soon as we are born plus they keep changing their minds on what is good or not good for you; so just live life and enjoy for how ever long you are here..!!! LOL

Govt told me diesel was good 15 years ago, now theyre  telling me it worse than satans  farts

7 hours ago, howbri said:

It's not difficult to find scientific, valid research showing that animal protein and saturated fat (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) all contribute to heart disease, cancer, diabetes etc. A plant-based starch diet of potato, sweet potato, rice, corn, legumes, pumpkin, squash is the healthiest diet on the planet. There are areas on earth, called "blue zones" (Okinawa), where people eat primarily plant-based that show most of these people living to age 100+. It's no secret. We've been lied to by Big Food, Big Pharma, the medical community etc for 100 years. Look at the incidence of cancer and heart disease in areas where they don't consume meat. They were disease free until McDonalds came along. Dr. John McDougal, Dr. Colin Campbell and many others have spent the last 50 years researching nutrition and can show studies convicting animal protein of most disease and early death that afflicts western society. Take some time and invest in your health. Check out the websites showing plant-based diets. I am 76 and can personally attest to the benefits. I exercise 6 days/week and my BP (110/70) and cholesterol (153) are those of a 20 year old. Don't listen to those that say "a real man eats meat". Well, a "real man" also gets cut open for heart disease and dies of cancer early too. 

What are the top 10 countries for life expectancy?

Japan currently ranks first in the world with an average lifespan of 82.9 years as of 2016.
...
The top 10 countries with the highest average life expectancies forecasted for 2040 are:

• Italy - 84.5 years.
• Israel - 84.4 years.
• France - 84.3 years.
• Luxembourg - 84.1 years.
• Australia - 84.1 years.

I knew a beautiful, curvy, happy female dancer. She decided to become vegan at the constant urging of some friends. After six months she looked like a bruised coat hanger.

13 minutes ago, Mac98 said:

I knew a beautiful, curvy, happy female dancer. She decided to become vegan at the constant urging of some friends. After six months she looked like a bruised coat hanger.

 

Erm...  Beautiful curvy, happy female 'dancer' turns skinny and bruised...    blamed solely on diet and not crack?

 

 

 

 

19 minutes ago, Mac98 said:

I knew a beautiful, curvy, happy female dancer. She decided to become vegan at the constant urging of some friends. After six months she looked like a bruised coat hanger.

25 minutes ago, Mac98 said:

I knew a beautiful, curvy, happy female dancer. She decided to become vegan at the constant urging of some friends. After six months she looked like a bruised coat hanger.

you not talking about her are you?

Very hard to find a decent steak in Pattaya. What do they feed the cows here.GRAVEL????

I eat veggies, meat, fruits and nuts. I stay away from processed meats like ham,

and saucages,  weiners, and bologna, as well as any sheep meat. I do not believe

many studies about food, although I do believe too much processed meat of any kind is 

not good for your health. Protein is important to your general health, so do not let any

vegetarian tell you that plant based food is all you need., plant protein is different

than animal meat protein, that much I am sure of.

Geezer

Interesting, for climate change we're supposed to believe the scientists, but when they tell us we can eat meat again, don't believe the scientists.