Eating red and processed meats can increase your risk of heart disease

Canadian researchers have shown that high consumption of red and processed meats can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Controversy over whether consuming red meat is unhealthy or not has always caught everyone’s attention. Many people believe that eating red meat increases the risk of certain diseases, while others believe that consuming them is okay and necessary for a healthy diet.

However, scientists in the UK have linked the consumption of red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork, to impaired heart function, including smaller ventricles, poor heart function, and arteries. harder. The scientists studied nearly 20,000 people, and found that high consumption of red and processed meat was linked to three different cardiovascular health conditions. Processed meats, such as sausages and bacon, are those that have been preserved by smoked or salted, processed or added chemical preservatives. There is some evidence that red meat alters gut microbiota, leading to higher levels of certain metabolites in the blood, which in turn is associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Previous studies have shown a link between high consumption of red and processed meats, which may increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Hamburger lovers may have to consider switching to a variety of plant-based alternatives that are now more common on supermarket shelves, as well as better for the environment. Last month, a team of researchers from Canada linked the risks of cardiovascular disease, like heart attack and stroke, to the consumption of processed meat. Additionally, a 2018 study found that regular consumption of red meat could increase the levels of chemicals that cause cardiovascular disease by more than 10 times. Study author Dr Zahra Raisi-Estabragh of Queen Mary University, London, said: “Previous studies have shown a link between high consumption of red meat and an increased risk of heart attack or death. died from heart disease. We examined the relationship between meat consumption and cardiovascular health imaging measures for the first time. This may help us understand the underlying mechanism of the previously observed association with cardiovascular disease ”. The long-term study investigating the contribution of genes and the environment to the development of health problems included 19,408 participants from UK Biobank. The researchers examined the association between self-reporting of red meat and processed meat consumption and heart anatomy and function. Three types of heart health measures were analyzed, one of which is blood vessel elasticity, a marker of good health. The analysis is adjusted for other factors that may affect the association, including age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol, exercise, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and only body mass number (BMI). The researchers found that high consumption of red and processed meats was associated with a decrease in cardiovascular health indicators of all the measures studied. People who eat more meat have smaller ventricles, poor heart function, and stiffer arteries, all of which are signs of poor heart health. Specifically, people who eat more meat have smaller ventricles, poor heart function, and stiffer arteries, all of which are signs of poor heart health. For comparison, the researchers also examined the relationships between heart-imaging measurements and eating oily fish, which is known to be good for heart health. They found that as the consumption of oily fish increased, heart function improved and the arteries more elastic. Dr Raisi-Estabragh said: “The findings support previous observations of the association between red meat consumption and processed meat and heart disease, and provide an understanding of heart structure and function. , blood vessel. It is thought that these factors may be the reason for the observed association between red meat and heart disease. For example, maybe eating more red meat leads to increased cholesterol in the blood and this in turn causes heart disease. Our research shows that these factors play a role in the relationship between meat intake and heart health, but they are not all. The study did not look at replacement mechanisms, the authors note, and admitted that it does not actually cause cardiac dysfunction. “This is an observational study and cannot assume the cause, but overall, it seems plausible that people limit their intake of red and processed meats for cardiovascular health reasons,” said Dr. Raisi-. Estabragh said. The research is being presented at the ESC 2021 Preventive Cardiovascular Conference, an online scientific conference of the European Heart Association (ESC). Dr. Shireen Kassam, a hematologist and senior lecturer at King’s College Hospital, who was not involved in the study, said observational data valuable for several decades indicate eating red and processed meats. increased risk of development and death from coronary heart disease and heart disease. “It’s no surprise that participants who consumed the most meat had evidence of impaired heart function and blood vessels,” she said. Research confirms that we must avoid questioning the role of red and processed meat in the diet and act on these research findings. By focusing on effective public health messages to assist people in eliminating these foods from their diet and replacing them with healthier plant protein sources. This will not only improve human health but also benefit the environment. Huong Giang (Source: dailymail)