Why Need to Limit Intake of Meat?

Jakarta, the meat is known to contain the animal protein needed by the body. But you should not eat meat too often. Why meat intake should be restricted?

Studies conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found a strong association between red meat consumption and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly meat that had been processed.

The study, led by An Pan, a researcher at HSPH Department of Nutrition suggests that replacing red meat with healthy proteins, such as low-fat dairy, nuts, or seeds, can significantly lower the risk.

The study found consumption of 100 grams of raw red meat every day can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 19 percent. The results of this study have been published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on August 10, 2011.

"The results of this study clearly has health implications are that consumption of red meat could increase the epidemic of type 2 diabetes," Hu said, as quoted from esciencenews.com, Friday (08/12/2011)

The researchers advise people to minimize the consumption of processed red meats like hot dogs, bacon and sausage because it contains sodium and nitrite levels are high. And replace it with another, more healthy choices such as nuts, grains, low fat dairy products or fish.

While the risk of red meat that has not been processed until now not known with certainty. In previous studies HSPH researchers have not found clear evidence about the relationship between eating red meat raw with the risk of coronary heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

Support for this study was conducted by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in the United States.