Meat is unarguably the most popular staple food item in most people’s diets, helping them cover their daily protein needs. It even serves as a good source of iron, zinc, vitamin B, etc., giving the human body much of the nutrients it needs. While meat is perceived as a healthy food item, it is also linked to numerous health challenges.
Let’s explore how meat consumption is affecting human health.
Increased Risk of Heart Disease
Red meat and other processed meat varieties contain a high concentration of saturated fat. While red meat doesn’t contribute to cardiovascular diseases when eaten in moderation, excessive red meat consumption can create massive problems. A study revealed that high amounts of saturated fats can increase LDL cholesterol, which is linked to plaque formation in arteries and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Elevated Blood Pressure
Excessive consumption of processed meats like Deli meat, bacon, etc., and red meat like beef, pork, and lamb is known to spike blood pressure because of their high sodium concentration. Red meat is especially flagged for its high salt concentration, which is linked to an increased likelihood of elevated blood pressure. While red meat is an essential source of protein, people who are more sensitive to salt should switch to leaner protein options like fish and chicken.
Colon Cancer
A study conducted by the Keck School of Medicine revealed how frequently consuming processed and red meat can increase the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer. The study analyzed data from 39,635 individuals without cancer and 29,842 individuals with colorectal cancer. The results showed that people who consume more processed meat have a 40% higher likelihood of developing colon cancer, while frequent red meat consumers have a 30% increased risk.
Type 2 Diabetes
A Harvard press release warned people that even eating two servings of red meat a week can increase an individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This probability will increase with greater consumption. The best way to lower any risk of developing type 2 diabetes is to replace red meat consumption with plant-based protein sources like nuts and legumes.
Increased Risk of Gout
People prone to gout must limit their red meat consumption because of its high purine levels. Experts say frequently consuming red meat can break down the meat’s purine content into uric acid, causing a flare-up. If you eat beef, lamb, pork, and other red meat regularly, consider replacing it with better protein sources.
Prostate Cancer
Debate on the carcinogenic effects of meat consumption is ongoing, but a meta-analysis has put forward notable findings. It analyzed 25 prospective studies spanning over 35,326 incident cases of prostate cancer. It found that high consumption of processed meat is likely linked to an increased likelihood of prostate cancer. Increasing processed meat consumption by merely 50 grams/day may lead to a 4% increased risk of total prostate cancer.
Obesity
Excessive consumption of unhealthy and processed food is one of the significant contributors to obesity in different parts of the world. While many consider meat a healthy food item, a study shows links between high red and processed meat consumption and obesity. It revealed that greater processed and red meat consumption negatively influences the body’s inflammatory and metabolic factors, leading to obesity.
Kidney Diseases
Processed meats fall in the ultra-processed food category and are frowned upon for their high concentration of additives, saturated fat, high sodium content, etc. If you consume processed meat once in a while, it won’t significantly impact your health. However, frequent consumption can become a leading cause of potential kidney diseases. A study was conducted on 14,000 adults, and their health status was monitored for over 24 years to determine whether ultra-processed foods are linked to kidney diseases. The findings revealed that ultra-processed meats increased the risk of kidney diseases by 18%.
Pancreatic Cancer
People who eat processed meat must limit their consumption because it is often injected with preservatives to make it last longer and taste good. Chemicals like nitrates are used for preservation, which can become a leading cause of cancer. Experts at Cancer Research UK believe that processed and red meat eventually increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, but they also demand more studies to end the debate forever. Salami, bacon, and hot dogs are classified as Group 1 in IARC classifications of carcinogenicity in humans, so they should be consumed more mindfully.
Liver Disease
Liver diseases are becoming increasingly common because of the food people are eating. There’s a controversial debate about whether meat consumption is also contributing to the rising liver diseases, and a study may have got the answer. A National Library of Medicine journal revealed that people with high meat consumption patterns had the worst metabolic profile, including high HOMA-IR and higher serum glucose levels. It even highlighted the link between high processed and red meat consumption and NAFLD and liver fibrosis, advising those with fatty liver diseases to reduce their meat consumption.
Iron Overload
As the name suggests, this health challenge refers to the slow build-up of too much iron in the body, causing the body’s regulatory system to fail. People who are genetically predisposed to high iron absorption from their digestive tract must limit their consumption of food items with rich iron content, like red meat. Continuing to consume excess red meat may make them vulnerable to iron overload disorders like hemochromatosis, eventually increasing the risk of liver problems, diabetes, arthritis, and heart failure.
Increased Foodborne Illnesses
People can catch severe foodborne illnesses if they consume contaminated meat. A study analyzed numerous cases of foodborne diseases spread from 1991 to 2021, many of which were attributed to the red meat industry. These outbreaks affected several hundreds of people worldwide and became a leading cause of over 10,000 deaths. Hence, people must be cautious about sourcing meat from reliable places to avoid similar experiences. Consuming contaminated meat can quickly spread foodborne viruses to people, making them severely ill for days.
