For years, people have heard mixed messages about eating animal-based protein. Some say it’s unhealthy, while others believe it’s an important part of a balanced diet.
But a new study brings some good news for meat lovers. It shows that eating animal protein is not linked to a higher risk of dying early. In fact, it may even lower your chance of dying from cancer.
The study was published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. It used data from nearly 16,000 adults in the United States, all aged 19 or older.
The data came from a well-known health survey called NHANES III. Researchers wanted to understand how eating different types of protein—animal and plant—affects the risk of dying from heart disease, cancer, or any cause.
After looking at the numbers, the researchers found that eating more animal protein did not raise the risk of death.
Surprisingly, they saw that people who ate more animal protein had a slightly lower risk of dying from cancer. That means meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products might actually help protect people against some serious diseases.
Stuart Phillips, a professor at McMaster University, led the research team. He says that many people are confused about protein. There’s a lot of talk about how much we should eat, what kind is best, and how it affects our health in the long run. This study helps clear up some of that confusion by using high-quality data and very careful analysis.
To make sure their findings were reliable, the team used advanced math tools to study long-term eating habits. They didn’t just look at what people ate on one day. Instead, they used methods that estimated how much protein people usually ate over time. This way, they got a better picture of long-term diet and its effect on health.
The results were very consistent. There was no link between how much total protein people ate and their risk of death. That was true for both animal protein and plant protein. Even when both types were included in the same analysis, the pattern stayed the same. Plant protein didn’t seem to affect cancer risk much, while animal protein showed a small benefit.
It’s important to remember that this type of research—called an observational study—can’t prove that one thing causes another. It only shows connections or patterns in large groups of people. But when these patterns match what other long-term clinical studies have shown, it gives researchers more confidence in the results.
Lead researcher Yanni Papanikolaou, who works in the field of nutrition, says that both animal and plant proteins seem to support good health and long life. When people eat a mix of these proteins as part of a balanced diet, they may be doing something good for their bodies.
This study was supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, but the group did not take part in the study’s design, data work, or publication. That helps protect the independence of the findings.
In summary, this study suggests that animal protein is not harmful and may even offer benefits, especially in lowering the risk of cancer. It supports the idea that animal protein can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. While more studies are always helpful, this research adds a positive note to the conversation about what we eat.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about 9 signs you have inflammation in your body. Could an anti-inflammatory diet help? and high-salt diet strongly changes your kidneys.
For more about diet, please read studies that fiber is your body’s natural guide to weight management and diet and nerve damage in diabetes: a novel insight.
The study is published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
