What is red meat

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Diabetes and high blood pressure are among the most common causes of kidney failure , but in July , one study suggested that red meat intake might be a risk factor. Published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology , the study reported a dose-dependent link between red meat consumption and risk of kidney failure.

For example, participants who were in the highest 25 percent of red meat intake were found to have a 40 percent increased risk of kidney failure, compared with those in the lowest 25 percent. Heart disease remains the number one killer in the U.

An unhealthful diet, high in saturated fat and cholesterol , is a well-known risk factor for heart disease. A number of studies have suggested that red meat falls into that category, raising the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions. A study of more than 37, men from Sweden, for example, found that men who consumed more than 75 grams of processed red meat per day were at a 1.

Another study, published in , reported an association between red meat intake and increased risk of heart disease, but this link was not attributed to the high saturated fat and cholesterol content of red meat. The researchers, from Columbia University in New York, found that gut bacteria digest a compound in red meat called L-carnitine, converting it into a compound called trimethylamine-N-oxide TMAO.

In mice, the researchers found that TMAO led to the development of atherosclerosis — a condition characterized by the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Although there are numerous studies linking red meat intake to poor heart health, other research challenges this association.

A recent study by researchers from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, for example, found that eating 3 ounces of red meat three times weekly did not lead to an increase in risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Diverticulitis is a condition whereby inflammation occurs in one or more of the sacs that line the wall of the colon, which are called diverticula. This inflammation can lead to a number of severe complications, including abscesses, perforation of the colon, and peritonitis infection and swelling in the lining of the abdomen.

While the specific causes of diverticulitis are unclear, it has been suggested that a high-fiber diet can raise the risk of developing the condition. Earlier this month, a study published in the journal Gut suggested that eating high amounts of red meat may also increase the likelihood of developing diverticulitis.

Compared with men who reported eating low quantities of red meat, those who reported eating the highest quantities were found to have a 58 percent greater risk of developing diverticulitis.

Despite overwhelming evidence of the potential health risks of red meat intake, it is important to note that red meat is full of nutrients. As an example, a gram portion of raw ground beef contains around 25 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B-3, and 32 percent of the recommended daily allowance of zinc. Red meat is also high in heme-iron — which is absorbed better than plant-derived iron — vitamin B-6, selenium , and other vitamins and minerals.

Still, based on the evidence to date, public health guidelines recommend limiting red meat consumption. The American Institute for Cancer Research, for example, recommend eating no more than 18 ounces of cooked red meats each week to reduce cancer risk, while processed meats should be avoided completely. However, while the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend cutting back on red meat intake, they do not specify a daily limit. According to Dr.