11/10/2024
Not a surprise, but progress, nonetheless.
Processed meat is linked to cardiovascular disease and death.
A 2021 study found people eating more than 150 grams (about 5.29 ounces) of processed meat per week increased their risk of heart disease and death by 46% and 51%, respectively, when compared to those who did not eat processed meat.
A meta-analysis of 43 studies on heart disease found a 26% increased risk of heart disease for 50 grams of processed meat consumed.
According to the World Health Organization, “Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavor or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but processed meats may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal, or meat by-products such as blood. Examples of processed meat include hot dogs (frankfurters), ham, sausages, corned beef, and biltong or beef jerky as well as canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces.”
References:
1. Iqbal R, Dehghan M, Mente A, et al. Associations of unprocessed and processed meat intake with mortality and cardiovascular disease in 21 countries [Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study]: a prospective cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(3):1049-1058. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa448
2. Shi W, Huang X, Schooling CM, Zhao JV. Red meat consumption, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Heart J. 2023;44(28):2626-2635. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehad336
