If your family is a ‘meat and potatoes’ kind of family, then red meat is a staple in your home. While many Americans crave a good steak and eat their fill of cheeseburgers, a new study shows eating red meat may lead to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
The study and the results
Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, and colleagues analyzed questionnaire responses from 37,083 men followed for 20 years in the Health Professionals Study. The researchers found that a daily 100-gram serving of unprocessed red meat (about the size of a deck of cards) was associated with a 19% increased risk of type 2 diabetes. So that small steak you eat could bump up your chances of becoming a diabetic. However, that steak is still better for you than processed meats, according to the same study. Those that regularly eat hot dogs, sausages and bacon are 51 percent more likely to get diabetes.
“Clearly, the results from this study have huge public health implications given the rising type 2 diabetes epidemic and increasing consumption of red meats worldwide,” said Hu. “The good news is that such troubling risk factors can be offset by swapping red meat for a healthier protein.”
How it should impact your dinner menu
The research suggests that processed red meats should be limited. In other words, don’t chow down on hot dogs every night; change it up with something a little more healthy. Studies show your diet impacts your health in many ways.
Diabetes, a worldwide problem
According to the Harvard experts, “Worldwide, diabetes has reached epidemic levels, affecting nearly 350 million adults. In the U.S. alone, more than 11% of adults over age 20—25.6 million people—have the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most have type 2 diabetes, which is primarily linked to obesity, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet.” Those suffering with diabetes often battle other health conditions.
