Still Eating Red Meat? Maybe This Will Change Your Mind
We have been hearing for years that consumption of red meat contributes to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. But now, according to this podcast, there are now three new reasons to avoid eating red meat.
- The amino acids in egg yolks and in red meat cause a chemical reaction in your gut that results in the production of a chemical called TMAO, which causes hardening of the arteries and “clumping” of your blood. This is not a topic that was discussed even ten years ago. This brings into question high protein, low carb diets like the paleo or keto diets.
- The Lone Star tick bite causes an anti-body to develop in the human body so that the next time you eat red meat after a Lone Star tick bite, you could actually go into anaphylactic shock due to the severe allergic reaction it will cause. This reaction could be as severe as that of a person with a nut allergy.
- Neu5Gc is a molecule naturally found on cell surfaces in mammals other than human. When humans eat red meat, it is introduced into the body. Because our bodies do not recognize this substance, we will form anti-bodies to fight it. Repeatedly eating red meat will activate the anti-bodies causing a chronic inflammatory response, which could lead to an increased risk of tumor formation and cardiovascular disease.
There are other reasons to avoid red meat as well. The high amount of saturated fat in animal protein, leads to a build up of cholesterol in the arteries. Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that the presence of the saturated fat in red meat contributes to the risk of colon and breast cancer. Cooking meat at a high temperature changes the surface of the meat making it carcinogenic. The type of iron found in meat is called heme iron and is found to produce compounds that damage cells leading to the development of cancer.
There are also some benefits to eating small amounts of red meat. The iron contained in red meat is readily absorbable by the body. It’s also a good source of Vitamin B12 that supports the development of DNA and maintains the health of nerves and red blood cells. It also provides zinc for a healthy immune system. And of course, let’s not forget the protein for strong bones and muscles. there are other food sources for these nutrients that don’t come with the warning that eating red meat does.
If you are going to eat red meat, it would be wise to follow these guidelines: