Reducing meat consumption has long been a health recommendation claimed to improve health and prolong life. But according to a new study, it may be the opposite and even provide extra protection against disease.
Eating more meat can be beneficial for the body. New research from McMaster University in Canada shows that animal foods are not linked to a higher risk of death. The study found that animal proteins could also offer protective benefits against cancer-related mortality.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 16,000 adults, 19 years and older, taking into account how much animal and plant-based protein they typically consumed. They also examined whether these dietary patterns were associated with a risk of dying from causes such as heart disease and cancer.
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The results showed no increased risk of death associated with consuming more animal protein. The data also showed a “modest but significant reduction” in cancer-related mortality.
No associations were found between protein, regardless of type, and the risk of death from any cause. But when plant and animal protein were analyzed, “the results remained consistent,” suggesting that plant protein has a “minimal impact on cancer mortality, while animal protein may offer a small protective effect.”
Healthy dietary pattern
“In combination with decades of clinical trials, the results support the incorporation of animal proteins as part of a healthy dietary pattern,” the research group’s press release stated.
Research lead Stuart Phillips, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University, commented in the same press release that there is “much confusion around protein” such as how much and what type to eat and what it means for long-term health.
“This study provides clarity, which is important for anyone trying to make informed, evidence-based decisions about what they eat,” Phillips wrote.
“It was absolutely necessary that our analysis used the most rigorous methods, the gold standard, to assess normal intake and mortality risk,” he continued.
“These methods allowed us to account for fluctuations in daily protein intake and provide a more accurate picture of long-term eating habits.”
Lead researcher Yanni Papanikolaou, president of Nutritional Strategies, also commented that when considering both observational data and clinical research, “it is clear that both animal and plant protein-rich foods promote health and longevity.”