The latest U.S. dietary guidelines are raising controversy among cancer experts. According to the FDA, red and processed meat is safe for health. There are no references about the link between meat and cancer, heart disease, and high cholesterol.
Thousands of studies indicate that eating less meat can dramatically lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, and several cancers. Yet, the FDA doesn’t even mention these findings in its report. Cancers researchers believe that the Congress was pressured by the meat industry.
According to the new dietary guidelines, Americans are free to eat red and processed meat as long as it’s lean. Health experts, on the other hand, claim that red meat consumption may lead to heart attack, stroke, type II diabetes and other conditions that have nothing to do with the fat content. Additionally, processed meat packs a lot of sodium, which increases the risk of hypertension.
Even though the recommended “low-fat, high-carb diet” has done more harm than good to Americans, the FDA keeps promoting this concept. In general, these guidelines are based on observational or epidemiological studies, so the findings don’t necessarily apply to large swaths of the population. The new dietary recommendations reflect the powerful influence of the beef industry.
If you care about your health, you may be better off breaking these rules. Nutritionists recommend a diet based on fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, turkey, lean meat, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Red and processed meat should only be consumed occasionally.
Eating high-fat foods is perfectly fine as long as you choose good fats. Studies have also found that a diet high in fat from milk, butter and other dairy products can elevate good cholesterol while having no impact on bad cholesterol. However, margarine and other sources of hydrogenated and trans fats are anything but healthy and should be avoided.
