We all know that a healthy and balanced diet is crucial for our health.
Experts now warn that one type of food is responsible for the rise in type 2 diabetes and cancer cases.
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According to the NHS, adults should not eat more than 70g of processed or red meat per day.
Official guidance states that red meat – such as beef, lamb and pork – is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, and can form part of a balanced diet.
Inputting BMJ Global HealthExperts have revealed that the number of deaths from red and processed meat has increased by 75% in certain countries.
In the last 20 years, many countries have seen an increase of their consumptions of red and processed beef.
The study examined the number of deaths and years lost to disability (DALYs), that could be attributed to diet among people over 25 in each country.
Experts examined data for 154 countries from 1993 to 2018, and 14 red meat products.
They were all made from beef, pork and lamb, as well as six processed primarily beef or pork items. These were preserved using chemicals, salting, curing, smoking, or other means.
Experts found that the number of diet-related deaths due to the global meat trade increased in three quarters (154) countries between 1993-5, 2016-18 and 2016.
Comparing the uptick in demand in each country with the deaths, the experts found that this accounted for 10,898 attributable deaths in 2016–18, an increase of nearly 75 per cent on the figures for 1993-5.
In 2016–2018, the top 10 countries where attributable deaths were most linked to meat consumption included, The Netherlands, Bahamas, Tonga, Denmark, Antigua and Barbuda, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Croatia and Greece.
These countries had more than 7 percent of all deaths due to diets.
Important to remember that the study was observational and that researchers couldn’t determine a cause.
The researchers recognized that many countries import these items to then export them again. This distorted their findings.
The experts said: “This study shows that global increases in red and processed meat trade contribute to the abrupt increase of diet-related [non-communicable diseases].
“Future interventions need to urgently integrate health policies with agricultural and trade policies by cooperating between responsible exporting and importing countries.”
It was revealed previously that more than 25g of meat per day could cause cancer. ‘increase risk of bowel cancer’.
Experts also found that just one sausage or 3 bacon rashers a day ‘increases killer heart disease risk by 20 per cent.
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