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I live in the “beef belt” with neighbors driving cars with license plates reading “EAT BEEF.”   But, I must report on studies showing eating red meat is harmful.

Eating red meat is associated with a significantly increased risk of

• total mortality,
• cardiovascular disease mortality and
• cancer mortality.

Studies of nearly 38,000 men and 83,000 women were followed every 4 years (up to 28 years of follow up).   The elevated risk of total mortality for a one-serving-per-day of red meat consumption was 12% for total red meat, 13% for unprocessed red meat, and 20% for processed red meat.

Good news.  Replacing one serving of red meat with one serving of fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, low-fat dairy products or whole grains daily was associated with a 7 to 19% lower risk of death.

MOO!

Archives of Internal Medicine, 2012 referenced.