Previous research has linked heavy consumption of red meat with a shorter lifespan and a higher risk of diabetes, colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease. U.S. dietary guidelines recommend limiting consumption of red and processed meats, and now it seems that the type of meat you eat may make a difference in your health risk. According to a new analysis published online in the journal Circulation, eating processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and deli ham increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. This is the first study of its kind to differentiate between the potential health effects of unprocessed red meat and processed meats.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and their colleagues reviewed almost 1,600 studies and found that eating 1.8 ounces of processed meats per day, or the equivalent of a single hot dog, increased the risk of heart disease by 42 percent. The same daily consumption of processed meats increased the risk of diabetes by 19 percent. On the other hand, eating the same amount of unprocessed meats, such as beef or pork, seemed to have no effect on heart disease or diabetes risk.

It seems that the difference may be in the sodium content of processed meats. While both unprocessed and processed meats have approximately the same amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol, processed meats have about four times more sodium. Based on the findings of this new analysis, consumption of unprocessed red meat is not associated with an increased risk of heart disease or diabetes. However, it is not associated with a reduced risk, either, so increasing consumption of that have been shown to have a protective effect, such as fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and whole grains, is still important.

Source:

Circulation. Published online 17 May 2010.