An Easy Way to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease: Eat Less Red Meat

It’s a scary fact. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States*, with more than 631,000 people dying each year from the plaguing, but preventable, disease. Of the several things one can do to prevent heart disease, or lessen the chances of it occurring, there is one that is attributed directly to diet, and that is specifically reducing one’s intake of red meat. According to the National Cancer Institute, the consumption of red and processed meat is associated with a modest increase in overall mortality, as well as cancer and cardiovascular mortality in both men and women. While there is a lot of helpful protein, as well as high iron, zinc, selenium and B vitamins found in red meat that can help prevent nutrient deficiency, there is also a lot of fat, cholesterol, and other less-than-savory elements that can increase anyone’s risk of heart disease if eaten enough. With the unhealthy diets of today’s society and the huge rise in the rate of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health-related diseases, it is hard to focus on just one element of the issue. However, by eating less red meat, one person can make one small change that will go a long way to helping reduce the risk of future heart disease. When you do eat red meat, be conscious of how much you are eating, and select lean cuts, such as sirloin or top round, which have lower fat content. Although red meat has some admirable qualities, as any doctor or online doctor will tell you, the fat and cholesterol that is packed into this meat is not the best for overall good health. There is always going to be too much of a good thing, and when it comes to red meat, the story is no different. In a recent study conducted on more than a half a million people aged 50 to 71 by the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, results concluded that those who at the most red meat had about a 30 percent greater risk of dying than those who ate the least. The types of red meat observed in the study included all types of beef and pork, including bacon, cold cuts, ham, hamburgers, hot dogs, and steak, as well as meat in pizza, chili, lasagna, and stew. Those in the study who ate the largest amount of processed meat posed a slightly higher mortality risk than those who consumed the least; and in contrast, those who ate the most white meat had a slightly lower mortality risk. Upon learning about ways to reduce your risk of heart disease, it can be disheartening to listen to online doctor consultations and online physician services that tell you to cut perhaps one of the most enjoyed foods out of your diet. However, in order to be a happier, healthier person and live a long happy life, a proper diet that helps prevent serious disease and illness is required. Online doctor services are able to provide plenty of information about simple changes that can be made to reduce the risk of heart disease and offer online medical consultation services to anyone who wants to learn more about heart disease and other illnesses and learn how to reduce their risks. While eating less red meat is just one way that can lower your risk of heart disease, replacing high-fat red and processed meats with protein-rich foods such as poultry or fish, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy is also a great way to lose weight, and prevent other diseases and illnesses. *Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009rn