To Help Prevent Diabetes, Pass On Processed Meat
An investigation conducted by researchers from the University of Edinburgh and the University of North Carolina suggests that reducing consumption of processed meat — such as deli meats, bacon, and hot dogs — by about a third could have significant health benefits over a decade. The researchers used data from a CDC national health survey to estimate how changes in consumption of processed and unprocessed meat would affect various health outcomes across the U.S. adult population.
They found that cutting processed meat intake alone by 30 percent could result in 352,900 fewer cases of diabetes, 92,500 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease, and 53,300 fewer cases of colorectal cancer over ten years. Additionally, reducing both processed and unprocessed meat consumption by 30 percent could lead to even greater health improvements: 1,073,400 fewer diabetes cases, 382,400 fewer cardiovascular disease cases, and 84,400 fewer colorectal cancer cases over the same period. Their analysis underscores the potential health benefits of reducing meat consumption, particularly processed meats, and highlights the need for further research into the impacts of dietary choices on chronic disease risk.
Try this recipe today: French Lentil Soup With Cremini Mushrooms, Sweet Potatoes & Thyme
Sign up for more Dr. Weil newsletters!
