According to a large study, replacing red meat with a plant-based protein can greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Over the years, many studies have found that the consumption of red meat is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer; however, the findings have been inconsistent.
For example, a 2015 study that compared the effects of animal protein and plant protein on the risk of heart disease found that the findings were inconclusive.
Some studies have investigated the link between red meat consumption and cardiovascular disease, which found that red meat does not substantially increase the risk of cardiovascular disease if one sticks to the recommended intake.
According to the new study, researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston analyzed the effects of red meat by replacing it with plant-based protein.
The findings have been published in the journal Circulation.
Red meat consumption, especially in the United States, remains a very controversial topic, where the red meat consumption per capita was over 200 pounds in 2018.
A recent survey has found that many Americans might be open to limiting their meat consumption in near future because they are understanding the associations between the red meat consumption and its nutritional as well as environmental health harms. The researchers recommended conducting education campaigns to helps people replace red meat with a plant-based diet.
The latest study looked at more than 1,8000 participants. The researchers have monitored the blood pressure and lipid profile of those who ate diets with red meat. They compared these numbers with those who ate other foods, such as fish, chicken, legumes, soy, and nuts.
The researchers found there were no significant changes in blood pressure, total cholesterol, and lipoproteins between participants who ate red meat and participants who ate more of other foods. However, they found there was an increased triglyceride concentration in people who ate red meat. On the other hand, those who had a plant-based diet had lower levels of bad cholesterol.
Lead author Marta Guasch-Ferré said, “Previous findings from randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of red meat on cardiovascular disease risk factors have been inconsistent. But, our new study, which makes specific comparisons between diets high in red meat versus diets high in other types of foods, shows that substituting red meat with high-quality protein sources lead to more favorable changes in cardiovascular risk factors.”
Senior author Meir Stampfer said, “Asking ‘Is red meat good or bad?’ is useless. It has to be ‘Compared to what?'”
Stampfer added, “If you replace burgers with cookies or fries, you don’t get healthier. But, if you replace red meat with healthy plant protein sources, like nuts and beans, you get a health benefit.” The experts have recommended following a healthful vegetarian diet and Mediterranean diet, which provide plenty of high-quality plant protein, as they offer excellent health benefits as well as promote environmental sustainability.
