Generic photo of red meat.Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News
A new study published inThe American Journal of Clinical Nutritionfound a link between red meat consumption and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that the “intakes of total, processed, and unprocessed red meat were positively and approximately linearly associated with higher risks of type 2 diabetes,” being that 22,761 participants had developed type 2 diabetes.
A breakdown of the results shared on the release indicated that participants who consumed the most red meat had a 62% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who ate the least. Each additional daily serving of processed red meat also proved a greater risk for the disease.
Stock photo showing an example of a diabetes testing process.Getty
Those who consumed an additional serving of processed red meat were at 46% greater risk of developing the disease. Additional daily consumption of unprocessed red meat gave individuals a 24% higher risk.
As for what can be done to help lower the risk for the disease, senior author Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, shared in a statement on the release that “a limit of about one serving per week of red meat would be reasonable for people wishing to optimize their health and wellbeing.”
The study also looked at the potential effects of substituting one daily serving of red meat for another protein source. Swapping red meat for a serving of nuts and legumes showed a 30% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Opting for a serving of dairy products as a protein source was associated with a 22% lower risk.
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Researchers reported that watching red meat consumption could also have environmental benefits, including potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 to 95% of the more than 37 million individuals who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes. The center encourages individuals to know the risk factors associated with the disease. Itswebsiteexplains that symptoms go a long time without notice and are often hard to spot.
source: people.com
