Toronto Star: Deli meats increase risk of heart disease, study finds

[marmar]

Deli meats increase risk of heart disease, study finds
May 17, 2010

Nicole Baute
LIVING REPORTER


Ditch the deli meat and reach for the pork chops.

According to a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health, red meat might not be as bad for us as we’ve been led to believe — but only if it has not been smoked, cured or otherwise preserved.

The study found that, on average, each 50 gram daily serving of processed meat is associated with a 42 per cent higher risk of developing heart disease and a 19 per cent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

But eating unprocessed red meat like steak and pork chops was not associated with an increased of developing these diseases.

“Based on these findings, people should avoid eating too much processed meats, such as bacon, sausages, salami, deli meats,” said lead researcher Renata Micha, a research fellow in the department of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.healthzone.ca/health/your%20health/article/810562--deli-meats-increase-risk-of-heart-disease-study-finds

[napi21]

1. Why should I believe this any more than I believed the story

about the red meat? Too much of anything is bad for you but I suspect nobody really knows what that combination should be.

[Warpy]

2. It's also very poorly written

If each 50g serving nearly doubled one's risk for heart disease, then eating that bologna sandwich for lunch daily would easily kill people off within a couple of years.

They've known nitrates were bad news for years. This is nothing new and different except that it let non preserved/processed red meats off the hook, also a mistake.

Too much of anything is a bad idea. The best thing is to eat a varied diet, mostly plants.