A new study has found that eating meat and other animal-based protein foods is not linked to a higher risk of dying.
In fact, it may even help protect against dying from cancer.
The research was published in a science journal called Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. Scientists looked at health and diet data from nearly 16,000 adults aged 19 and older in the United States.
This information came from a national health survey.
The researchers wanted to know if eating more animal or plant protein was linked to dying from heart disease, cancer, or any cause.
They found that eating more animal protein was not linked to a higher risk of death. In fact, those who ate more animal protein had a small but clear lower risk of dying from cancer.
“There’s a lot of confusion about protein – how much to eat, what type is best, and what it means for your long-term health,” said Stuart Phillips, a professor at McMaster University who led the study. “This research helps clear up some of that confusion.”
To make sure the results were accurate, the team used advanced math and statistics to look at long-term eating patterns instead of just one or two days of eating. This helped them get a better idea of what people usually eat.
They found no connection between total protein, animal protein, or plant protein and the risk of dying from any cause, heart disease, or cancer. When they looked at both animal and plant protein together, the results still showed no increased risk. In fact, animal protein seemed to help slightly reduce the risk of dying from cancer.
This study was based on observations, which means it can’t prove that meat directly lowers the risk of cancer, but it does show a pattern. When these results are combined with other clinical studies, it supports the idea that both plant and animal proteins can be part of a healthy diet.
“Whether it’s meat or plant-based protein, both can help people live longer and healthier lives,” said Yanni Papanikolaou, the lead researcher of the study.
The study was paid for by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, but the group had no role in how the research was done or published.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about A common blood thinner can help fight cancer and findings of Heavy alcohol drinking is common in cancer patients.
For more about cancer, please read studies about Catching the silent killer: a new study on esophageal cancer and findings of New trick knocks out tough guy prostate cancer.
The study is published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
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