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Study: eating any red meat makes you more likely to die
By Virginia SmithMarch 13th, 2012, 3:45 pmComments (17)
Just in time for barbecue season, a new study shows that including any red meat at all in your diet will notably increase your likelihood of premature death. Adults who regularly consumed one small serving of red meat daily increased risk of death by thirteen percent, while regular consumption of processed red meat bumped the number up to twenty percent. Predictably, healthier options include nuts, fish, and poultry. In case you weren't convinced, there's even a handy infographic:
"Any red meat you eat contributes to the risk," said the study's author. "If you want to eat red meat, eat the unprocessed products, and reduce it to two or three servings a week. That would have a huge impact on public health." Another expert chimed in, "Something as simple as a meatless Monday can help. Even small changes can make a difference."
Maybe I'm living in a meat-free urban bubble, but do most people really eat that much red meat in the first place? If one serving a day qualifies as a relatively small amount to researchers, what exactly do they think the rest of us are eating — steak for every meal? I'd be curious to see how this study plays out with subjects who consume red meat say, once or twice a week instead of once or twice a day. Would they still be racing to the grave that much faster than the rest of us?
Commentarium (17 Comments)
"Maybe I'm living in a meat-free urban bubble, but do most people really eat that much red meat in the first place?"
Yeah, really. I got scared at first, but I eat red meat (95% lean) 1-2 times a week, if that.
The rest of the time it's babies. Delicious, sweet babies.
A Modest Proposal was a darn good book reading in high school. :D
Red meat is expensive. Who can afford to eat it every day of the week?
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What about people who eat red meat but no grains?
in the processed red meat section. Isn't bacon pork, and isn't pork the other white meat?
Science is too hard.
Pork is, in fact, red meat by USDA standards. The "other white meat" nonsense was a marketing ploy to boost sales amidst a time when red meat was deemed unhealthy and white meat, such as chicken, was promoted to be a healthier alternative.
How can I be more likely to do something that 100% of us will eventually do?
Dude, You are like 10000% more likely to die if you breath air! Stop breathing air! It is going to kill you some day!
I swear reporters are getting more ignorant and lazy every day. Also statistics should be a class mandatory before going into any sort of journalism. I have 13% greater chance of premature death? What are the odds of premature death? What are the risks in eating a pound of brazil nuts every day!?!? I bet that would lead to premature death as well...
"more likely to die"? do you mean to tell me that if I never touch red meat, I'll live forever?
The infographic holds no merit. It only cites the American Medical Association yet doesn't give you any reference points. The idea that the one thing that gave humans the energy to evolve into intelligent beings should be avoided is bogus.
If eating red meats increases my mortality risk and nuts decreases it, then I'd rather die a youthful happy man than some old nut eating wanker.
does that mean if i eat 5 times the normal amount of normal meat i have a 100% chance to die?
processed meat*
You have a 100% chance to die no matter what you do. Eat up, be happy, don't live in fear of the inevitable.
whoever wrote the title needs to be fired!
I haven't eaten red meat in ~3 years, so I was excited to read this headline, but just what is this article trying to say? Eating red meat will "increase your likelihood of premature death"? Like, from anything? Heart disease, liver failure, getting hit by a bus, homicide...?