Are Meat, Fish, Dairy Products, Eggs in your diet leading you to heart disease?
May 10, 2019
Summer is quickly approaching and with it comes grilling season, chances are at least once this summer you’ll wonder about the effects of that delicious, juicy grilled steak will have on your heart?
According to a research study EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition), food obtained from animals can have an impact on your heart and its blood vessels. The study contained a population of about 520,000 men and women. The Study suggests, unsurprisingly, that increased intake of red meat and processed meat causes an increase in the percentage of risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD).
Alternatively, what health benefits do dairy products have? Milk, yogurt, cheese, and eggs from animals are healthy for the human heart, and they decrease the risk of ischemic heart disease.
The study indicates that those who consume milk, yogurt, and dairy products have a reduced chance of ischemic heart disease as compared to those who use red meat. The research analysis shows that replacing 100kcal/d of red and processed meat with 100kcal/d of cheese, eggs, and yogurt, the risk of IHD decreases to almost 20%.
Red and processed meat cause an increase in Low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL) in blood, which increases the chance for accumulation in blood vessels. They also increase systolic blood pressure. The study showed a significant relation between red-meat and increased heart disease whereas there was an inverse relationship in people who consumed yogurt, cheese, and milk products.
Limiting consumption of meat, and substituting with dairy products along with fruits and vegetables may be beneficial for the heart. Along with dietary habits, exercise and smoking cessation can be other factors that improve overall health and prevent cardiovascular diseases.
For more info related to the research, you can go to https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038813