Why do We Need to Limit Our Intake of Meat?

Proteins are one of the most essential food ingredients and there is a minimum quantity that we need to eat if we are to remain healthy. The minimum daily amount depends on body size, rate of growth and the presence of disease - so the amount varies throughout life.

In most Western countries there is an emphasis in the diet on animal protein and being able to eat a thick steak is seen as being a wonderful food and really good for you. This has taken a bit of a dint in recent years with the rise of awareness of the saturated fats in red meats and the relationship of this to heart disease. However, the food traditions are strong and these is still a lot of emphasis in Western diets on animal protein (even if the meat is now leaner that it was a decade or two ago) and advertising campaigns, such as "Feed the Man Beef" are having their impact.

However, there is real evidence that demonstrates that 'excessive' levels of animal protein can potentially trigger many diseases and in particular cancer growth. Laboratory experiments have shown that the promotion of cancer was activated when the intake of protein exceeded the amount that was needed to satisfy body growth rates - in this case about 12%. In humans higher levels of animal protein is linked to colon cancer - indeed the higher the level of animal protein consumption the higher the incidence of colon cancer.

Studies have shown that people who consume red meat five times a week have more than double the risk of colorectal cancer than people who eat these meats less than once per month. Red meat is high in fat. Fats increase the production of bile - large amounts of which may be harmful to colon cells. Also red meat is high in iron - an important mineral but one that in excess can generate damaging free radicals and again increase the risk of cancer. There are also studies demonstrating that the consumption of red meat more than five times per week increases that risk of developing breast cancer. This is a common theme in all of the statistics for all cancers. The higher the amount of animal protein, dairy products, or milk that is consumed the higher the incidence of cancer. However, people who ate fish or poultry showed a 20 to 30 % lower risk of developing cancer compared to the red meat eaters.

One of the factors to be considered in the linking of cancer to meats is the difference between your normal supermarket meat and quality organic raised meat. Many commercially available meats contain toxins, such as hormones to aid in animal growth, antibiotics and other chemical additives. These toxins can be carcinogenic. It is best to avoid all processed meats, and that includes hamburgers and hotdogs - you wouldn't want to know what they put in these!

In addition to the link of animal protein to cancer it is also linked to osteoporosis. Protein, and especially protein from animal sources, makes our urine acidic, a condition the body attempts to remedy by drawing calcium, an alkaline mineral, from the bones. Eventually, this calcium is lost, flushed from the body in the urine. Researchers who reviewed 16 studies examining the protein-calcium relationship found that when protein intake is above 75 grams per day, more calcium is lost in the urine than is retained in the body. Researchers speculate that this level of protein intake alone could account for the bone loss commonly seen in postmenopausal women!

As well as the problem associated with cancers there is also a problems with saturated fats that are in some animal proteins especially red meats. This issue has received more publicity in recent times. Saturated fats are the 'bad' fats. Fats (or lipids) are visible in meat and dairy products but most foods do contain some fats. Fats are an important part of a healthy balanced diet. The problem arises however when the intake of the wrong kind of fats is excessive. The excessive intake of the wrong fats leads to many health problems including:

• obesity
• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• increased risk of cancers including breast and colon cancer
• varicose veins

The body needs a reasonable amount of protein and I think that part of it can come from animal protein, the best type of which is fish that isn't farmed. However, the word to remember here is 'excessive' animal protein. Many people eat far too much animal protein as they have a portion of it with every meal - and sometimes that is all they have. The predominant food needs to be vegetables - particularly fresh, raw vegetables and beans.

Find out more about what you should eat to improve your health (as well as over 300 healthy recipes) get your copy of Safe Colon Cleansing: Your Good Health Guide.

Dr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes that health is not just absence of disease and seeks to actively promote vitality and wellness through empowering others. She encourages people to improve their health by quit smoking, cleansing their body, taking essential vitamin and mineral supplement and many other methods, including herbal remedies.