Eating meat as part of a regular diet could improve overall health and lead to a longer life, a new study has found.
The study, which was conducted by a biomedicine researcher from the University of Adelaide, examined meat consumption in more than 170 countries.
Research found a meat based diet correlates to greater life expectancy, independent of total calorie intake, economic affluence, urban advantages, and obesity, the piece published on Tuesday in the International Journal of General Medicine said.
Scientists from the University of Adelaide have found meat as part of a regular diet could improve overall health and lead to a longer life (pictured, stock photo)
The study also revealed energy from carbohydrate crops (grains and tubers), prevalent in vegan or vegetarian based diets, does not lead to longer life expectancy.
Study author, University of Adelaide researcher in biomedicine, Dr Wenpeng You said humans have evolved and thrived over millions of years because of eating meat.
‘We wanted to look more closely at research that has thrown a negative spotlight on meat consumption in the human diet,’ Dr You said.
The study also revealed energy from carbohydrate crops (grains and tubers), prevalent in vegan or vegetarian based diets, does not lead to longer life expectancy (pictured, stock photo)
‘While detrimental effects of meat consumption on human health have been found in some studies in the past, the methods and findings in these studies are controversial and circumstantial.’
Scientists said previous studies from developed countries have associated a vegan or vegetarian based diet with improved health.
However, study nutritionist Yanfei Ge said this is because people are able to purchase plant-based substitutes that offer the same nutrients as meat.
‘Studies looking into the diets of wealthy, highly educated communities, are looking at people who have the purchasing power and the knowledge to select plant-based diets that access the full nutrients normally contained in meat,’ she said.
‘Essentially, they have replaced meat with all the same nutrition meat provides.’
Study co-author and anthropologist at the University of Adelaide, Dr Arthur Saniotis said the findings were in line with previous studies showing cereal-based foods provide less nutritional value than meat.
Scientists said previous studies from developed countries have associated a vegan or vegetarian based diet with improved health
The findings of the Australian study were in line with previous studies showing cereal-based foods provide less nutritional value than meat
‘While this is no surprise to many of us, it still needs to be pointed out,’ Dr Saniotis said.
‘It highlights that meat has its own components contributing to our overall health beyond just the number of calories consumed, and that without meat in our diet, we may not thrive.
‘Our take home message from the paper is that meat-eating is beneficial to human health provided that it is consumed in moderation and that the meat industry is conducted in an ethical way.’
While meat consumption could lead to a longer life, the benefits of a largely vegan diet made up of plant-based foods can aid in weight loss and slash heart disease.
A long term study conducted by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis found a largely plant-based diet can reduce the risk of heart disease by 52 per cent.
It looked at the diet of some 5,000 people over a 30-year period and whether they developed heart disease.
The study found a variety of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless fish and chicken, nuts were beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Dietitian Susie Burrell says animal-based protein (protein that comes from eggs, meat, fish, chicken and dairy food) contains ‘high biological value protein’.
‘This means it’s very similar in structure to proteins in the human body and is easily processed and assimilated,’ she said.
Not only do animal-based proteins contain protein, but they also include other nutrients that are essential for health – including calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, choline and Vitamin B12.
Ms Burrell said it is quite difficult to get these in a 100 per cent plant-based diet, unless you are ready for some ‘careful food selection, the addition of fortified foods such as nut-based milks and even supplementation’.
WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?
Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain, according to the NHS
• Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables count
• Base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain
• 30 grams of fibre a day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole-wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread and large baked potato with the skin on
• Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) choosing lower fat and lower sugar options
• Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish every week, one of which should be oily)
• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consuming in small amounts
• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day
• Adults should have less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men a day
Source: NHS Eatwell Guide
