Correlation of Meat & Cardiovascular Health

According to an article published by the Cardiac Research Institute, “Eating 50 grams of processed meat a day—bacon, ham, sausage—increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 18%. Other studies support this claim and indicate that the consumption of red meat has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Many popular protein-heavy diets, such as the Keto diet and South Beach diet, promote eating meat protein for most of your daily calories. One popular diet—originally called the Atkins diet— is the first protein-based diet that I tried in the 90s, having a 20-pound weight loss in the first two weeks. However, its founder, Dr. Atkins, was allegedly categorized as clinically obese when he died at the age of 72. What these diets don’t consider are elevated cholesterol levels and, in some cases, the nutritional deficiencies you endure while dieting.

The big question: How is the consumption of meat related to heart disease?

Saturated fat is derived solely from animal protein. Saturated fat is the bad fat that clogs your arteries and eventually leads to cardiovascular disease. Not only does saturated fat affect your arteries, but it also affects your kidneys and makes your blood acidic, which could lead to conditions like metabolic acidosis and gout.

The myth: Many trainers and meat consumers believe that you must eat lots of meat to get an adequate amount of protein--This is false. The protein we consume from animals is a secondary source available to us because animals eat plants, and when we eat animals, we ingest the secondary protein. You could skip this step and get protein by going directly to the source.

I will admit that you need to eat a large amount of plant protein to equal the amount you would get from animals, which is why I recommend supplementation for plant-based protein eaters. You can boost your daily protein by drinking vegan protein shakes and eating protein bars. For non-vegetarians, eating seafood, poultry, and lean meats will reduce your risk, and the American Heart Association suggests limiting your consumption of lean meat to 6 ounces a day. However, to dramatically minimize the risk, consider a vegetarian or vegan diet. Either way, always consult your doctor before starting any diet program.

Ronni Walker is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in mass communication. She is committed to helping people transition to and maintain healthy lifestyles through the P.RE.T.T.Y. Girl Fitness project. You may contact her by sending an email to coach@ PGF.life.