From Science Daily --
Otherwise-healthy adults who eat two or more servings of meat a day -- the equivalent of two burger patties -- increase their risk of developing metabolic syndrome by 25 percent compared with those who eat meat twice a week, according to research published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including elevated waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol and high fasting glucose levels. The presence of three or more of the factors increases a person's risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
But it's not just meat that adds inches to the waist, increases blood pressure and lowers HDL -- "it's fried foods as well," said Lyn M. Steffen, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., co-author of the study and an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota.
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Dairy products, by contrast, appeared to offer some protection against metabolic syndrome.
Steffen said that, "Fried foods are typically synonymous with commonly eaten fast foods, so I think it is safe to say that these findings support a link between fast-food consumption and an increase in metabolic risk factors." Read on...
Comments: More and more we're hearing how beneficial a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources (non-meat) are to our health and longevity. Even the environment benefits from a reduced consumption of beef. Think of all the land that is used for cattle, and the water it takes to support those cattle. The numbers put a strain on the land and its preservation. Once a "burger" is created that is made from vegetable sources or tofu for example - one that might closely mimic the taste of the typical burger, then we might be on the road to solving a lot more health problems. However, raw fruits and vegetables should be the staple for any healthy diet.
HWI
