There is no change from 2010 in the recommended volume of
meat people should eat. Earlier proposals called for sharp reductions.
But the government does say that men and boys ought to eat
less meat and more vegetables.
And it repeats advice to include a wide variety of foods to
achieve a healthy diet.
It also says that eating more than the recommended volumes
of meat increases the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
A World Health Organization report a few months ago warned
that eating meat increases the risk of cancer, especially processed meats such
as bacon and barbecued meats because of the high temperatures involved.
Here’s what the report said, in part, about meat:
“Strong evidence from mostly prospective cohort studies but
also randomized controlled trials has shown that eating patterns that include
lower intake of meats as well as processed meats and processed poultry are
associated with reduced risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) in adults.
Moderate evidence indicates that these eating patterns are associated with
reduced risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer in adults.
As described earlier, eating patterns consist of multiple, interacting food
components, and the relationships to health exist for the overall eating
pattern, not necessarily to an isolated aspect of the diet. Much of this
research on eating patterns has grouped together all meats and poultry,
regardless of fat content or processing, though some evidence has identified
lean meats and lean poultry in healthy eating patterns. In separate analyses,
food pattern modeling has demonstrated that lean meats and lean poultry can
contribute important nutrients within limits for sodium, calories from
saturated fats and added sugars, and total calories when consumed in recommended
amounts in healthy eating patterns, such as the Healthy U.S.-Style and
Mediterranean-Style Eating Patterns.”
