Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- A new study out of Harvard finds that if you eat red meat every day you’re raising your risk of death from heart disease and cancer.
We’ve long known that too much red meat isn’t good for you, but this study, which followed thousands of people for nearly 30 years, puts numbers to the risk. One serving of red meat a day raised the risk of death by 13 percent, according to the study. And while that’s small compared to smoking, it accounts for one and a half million deaths per year.
What’s a safe amount of red meat? ABC’s medical editor Dr. Richard Besser says, “I don’t think it’s right to demonize any food, so I think you can have a healthy diet that includes some red meat. In this study, the group that was at lowest risk was having red meat about twice a week. ”
“Processed red meat [showed] an increased risk for men…sausages, hot dogs…that was a higher risk food than unprocessed red meat,” further explained Dr. Besser.
Dr. Besser also says the serving size used in the study was very small. Three ounces of meant is considered a serving. Order one 12 ounce steak and you’ve gone over the two serving recommendation.
