There is an old saying, “one man’s meat is another man’s poison.” Of course, today, legions of dedicated, politically correct, nanny state public health experts want to convince us (or themselves) that eating meat is bad for our health.
The latest “grilling” of meat comes from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. They analyzed data from the large database that has been mined for decades at politically correct Harvard University.
Researchers looked at mortality rates of vegetarians compared to meat eaters.
According to their calculations, there was a two percent increase in mortality from higher “meat” consumption. Except…hold on…
They lumped red meat together with processed meats of all kinds, such as hot dogs.
Why is that important? The nutritional content of organic, grass-fed meats is overwhelmingly different — and superior — to the nutritional content of hot dogs. Forget apples to apples. Looking at red meat and processed meat isn’t even like comparing apples to oranges. It’s like comparing apples to pop tarts.
To make matters even more convoluted, in the next breath these researchers linked consumption of chicken and fish with a “much lower” mortality.
Say, what?
Yes, dear patient, eating meat will result in an ever-so-slight increase in mortality rate. Unless, of course, you eat fish and chicken, in which case you will have a MUCH LOWER mortality rate. And we don’t really know about grass-fed beef. That could improve your longevity as well. Actually, we really know nothing at all.
Convinced of their nonsense yet?
Me neither.
Meat even more important as you get older
To help “support” their case against meat, the researchers also cited studies from the 1970s and 1980s, which supposedly found that a vegetarian/vegan diet was healthier than a diet containing meat.
Of course, much more recent research, as I have reported, shows vegetarians/vegans have better health not because of their diet, but because they tend to have healthier habits like exercising, and consuming fewer soft drinks, sweets, and junk food. They also have good social and spiritual health. And they take dietary supplements more often.
That said, recent research also links a vegetarian/vegan diet with deficiencies of B vitamins, vitamin D, and mineral micronutrients.
Of course, many vegetarians have valid ethical and moral concerns. But studies show vegetarians are often motivated by a desire to lead a healthy lifestyle, not necessarily ethical concerns.
But the simple fact is, we need protein for optimal health. And meat is, by far, the best source of that essential nutrient.
Plus, studies show “animal flesh” is a much better source for building and maintaining muscle mass, especially as we get older. In fact, studies also show that aging men need to eat more, not less, red meat.
Bottom line: As I often report, evidence does not support public health nannies’ misguided crusade against meat. (Or — against eggs, cholesterol, saturated fats and salt, for that matter.)
Extreme stress is the real “silent killer” in today’s society. And tomorrow, I’ll tell you more about it, along with some surprising evidence about the benefits of mild stress.
Source:
The added cost of eating red meat — a quicker death, scientists say,” Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) 8/2/2016