How are we to determine whether red meat is malicious or marvelous? Unfortunately, there is a lot of misleading information in the world of scientific evidence. If you don’t know how to interpret a study, or what to look for, you may miss facts.
Information about Nutritional Studies
- Nutritional analysis is mainly based on observation.
- These evaluations ask people what they’ve eaten over a certain period of time and examine other variables.
- This type of testing always has confounding factors.
- When there is a correlation in research, that doesn’t establish causation.
- If you find a correlation you cannot say it caused something.
Harvard Study Implies Red Meat is Malicious
About a year ago, Harvard published a nutritional and observational study by the title of, “Red Meat Consumption Associated with Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk.”
- Harvard cannot say red meat causes Type 2 Diabetes.
- This study name has to say “associated” in the name of this article.
- But the word “associated” leads our mind to jump directly to causation.
- So, just because there is a correlation in a study, this doesn’t establish causation.
- In other words, correlation doesn’t support causation.
- There are other variables to consider.
Internist Dr Eric Westman, an Obesity Specialist at Duke Outpatient Clinic in NC, Champions Red Meats
Dr Westman is an advocate of eating red meat. He states that if you think about the physiology involved in eating red meat, the claims of Harvard make absolutely no sense.
- Dr Westman treats many patients who eat red meat, and when checking their glucose after eating red meat, it doesn’t go up.
- The fact is that we know hamburgers (red meat patties) do not raise blood glucose.
- You can wear a continuous glucose monitor and see that red meat does not increase blood sugar.
- The problem is introduced when an individual adds a bun, fries, and a soft drink into the equation.
- Those extra items spike sugar, not the red meat hamburger patty.
- If you eat pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread, the glucose monitor will show your glucose spiking.
- It’s an easy no-brainer.
Dr. Westman reminds us, that 100 years ago doctors used the Osler Textbook of Medicine.
- Back then, part of the treatment for people with diabetes was to mainly eat meat.
- Today he instructs diabetics and those who are obese to eat red meat.
Should Groups with Vested Interests use Limited Data to Promote their Agendas?
Dr. Westman states there is a fascinating use of limited data trumpeted by people with vested interests, who don’t want you to eat meat.
UK surgeon, Dr Cleve quote:
“For a modern-day disease to be related to an old-fashioned food is one of the most ludicrous things I ever heard in my life.”
People have been eating red meat for thousands of years and heart disease, cancer and diabetes are only modern-day diseases.
Marvelous Benefits of Red Meat
- Saturated fat has a lot of nutritional value and is often found in red meat. It provides benefits to our brain, cell membranes, and nerve cells, among other things.
- Grass-fed and grass-finished beef is always going to be best. Grass fed contains significantly more omega-3 fatty acids (which are anti-inflammatory) and something called conjugated linoleic acid. It is a type of polyunsaturated fat that we have to get from the diet. It is known to be helpful in fighting cancer and diabetes, blocking weight gain and obesity. These high levels are almost exclusively found in high-quality, grass-fed cows and other grass-fed animals.
- Red meat also provides branched-chain amino acids that help to support muscle preservation and metabolic health. It is a complete source of all essential and non-essential amino acids and a major source of heme-iron required to help build muscle and cardiovascular health.
- According to Healthline, red meat is also a good source of glutathione. It is an important antioxidant in our bodies. Red meat contains preformed glutathione, making it beneficial for maintaining adequate levels in the body.
In Conclusion, Red Meat Really is Marvelous.
Red meat tastes good, and is in fact good for you. Listen to doctors like Westman who provide great research to back up everything they say. Plus, they have treated thousands of healthy patients who are no longer diabetic, obese, or have heart disease to prove it.