We all knew
it was coming: red meat has been placed on the list of foods that increase the likelihood of dying, courtesy, this time, of researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. An HSPH news release reports that researchers observed 37,698 men for up to 22 years and 83,644 women for up to 28 years, evaluating their diets every four years. All of the people studied had no cardiovascular disease or cancer when the study started. The scientists found that one daily serving of unprocessed red meat (about the size of a deck of cards) was associated with a 13 percent increased risk of mortality, and one daily serving of processed red meat (one hot dog or two slices of bacon) was associated with a 20 percent increased risk. The corresponding increases in risk were 18 percent and 21 percent for cardiovascular mortality, and 10 percent and 16 percent for cancer. What to do? The research showed that replacing one serving of red meat with one serving of a healthy protein source cut mortality risk 7 percent for fish, 14 percent for poultry, 19 percent for nuts, 10 percent for legumes, 10 percent for low-fat dairy products, and 14 percent for whole grains. The researchers believe that 9.3 percent of deaths in men and 7.6 percent in women could have been prevented if all the participants had at less than 0.5 servings per day of red meat. Read more from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Funny, all these studies indicate that a Monks diet will lead to bit of an extended life with a reduced mortality rate. Even if these statistics prove to be true, is it really worth giving up a Five Guy`s Hamburger with hand cut French Fries, a natural casing Nathan`s Famous, Sabrett or Katz`s Deli (NYC) Hotdog to hang around a few extra years eating a boring diet of horse carrots sprouts and and tofu? God forbid you devoured a Corned Beef or Pastrami Sandwich which might lead to an immediate demise. Mike Royko famous columnist for the Chicago Tribune once wrote that of all the Diet Books ever written, (which he used all all failed with), he made the observation that only his “one” page Diet Book was valid. No Carb Counting, Carbohydrate Counting or Calorie Counting was necessary. It works like this, If it tastes “Good” you can`t eat it because it has to be bad for you, high in calories and carbs. If it tastes like crap, knock yourself out if you`d like, splurge and eat as much as you want due to the fact that it is healthy, low in calories and carbs and your not likely to want to consume more then a bite full or two and would prefer killing you hunger just drinking water or seltzer. What a genius, and he was`nt even a Doctor! Wonder why Dr Ozz has`nt picked up on that either?
It’s how you want to live the LAST 10 years of your life, on med’s unable to make it to the mailbox ?
Food should be viewed as fuel for the type of life you want to live.
Your argument sounds good. But I rather enjoy life and try many different things. It’s about not over doing it. Even with the percentages that the article states are in your favor. Just monitor everything. One guy I knew always watched everything he ate. When he ended up with cancer he was really stunned. He felt like he was cheated. He did everything right. Another study that I read about years back. One of the subjects in the study ate two eggs a day. Ten years later when the doctors checked him. He was still in excellent shape. Years ago our grandparents ate what we would consider to be fatty foods. But they were much more active than us. It was their way of life not just exercising for 1 hour a day.
Amazing, My grandparents managed to live to late 80’s frying everything in Bacon Grease, Eating red meat all the time, It seams as though now all this is bad for you? Obviously the health food makers are paying for all these so called studies. So??? I can eat crappy tasting health food and exercise everyday and live to ??? 92? or I can eat what tastes great and enjoy life and live to ? 85? I’ll chance it. Everything healthy comes out 5 years later to cause cancer anyway.
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