The Dangers of Red Meat

Today in the Washington Post main section, front page, there was a report of a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showing that people who eat 4 or more ounces of red meat per day have a 30% more risk of dying in the 10 years they were followed compared to those who did not. The study was performed in middle age and elderly people and the causes of death seen in the red meat eating group were attributed to cardiovascular and cancer causes. Of note, sausage, cold cuts and other "processed" meats seemed to be more causally related to the mortality.

I am not certain this news is a shocking revelation...I think we all pretty much knew going into this that chicken,turkey and fish were "healthier" proteins than a big piece of prime rib. However, this study did follow 500,000 people and 30% increase in mortality is a number that is eye-opening for sure.

How does this news interface with weight loss efforts? Clearly, if someone ate pasta and carbs and did not eat proteins, and that diet put the person in a morbid obesity range, I can assure you that the risk of that obesity would be more than the risk of eating red meat and being at an appropriate weight. We have many people who enter our program that never touch red meat at all. Obesity results in a much higher risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc...all of which will of course lower the life expectancy.

So...here are Posner's thoughts: A high protein/low carbohydrate dietary intake will help you attain your weight loss goals. The more poultry and fish/seafood you can use as part of your high-protein strategy, the better off you will be. For variety purposes and not having boredom set in, occasional red meat usage is fine.

Hmmmm...have not thrown a trivia question out there for awhile, so here goes: get the answer correct and stop by for a FREE bottle of our Serotonin Health and Energy multivitamin. (This vitamin gives me the energy to write this blog at all crazy hours that you see posted)

Ready? (And NO use of the internet to help...you are on the honor system) Red meat was probably on the table at every dinner at the Cleaver family in the old show Leave it to Beaver. Name all of the actors (their real names): June, Ward, Beaver and Wally. Email to: Potomacinternalmedicine@starpower.net