Just in time for barbecue season, a new study shows that including any red meat at all in your diet will notably increase your likelihood of premature death. Adults who regularly consumed one small serving of red meat daily increased risk of death by thirteen percent, while regular consumption of processed red meat bumped the number up to twenty percent. Predictably, healthier options include nuts, fish, and poultry. In case you weren't convinced, there's even a handy infographic:
"Any red meat you eat contributes to the risk," said the study's author. "If you want to eat red meat, eat the unprocessed products, and reduce it to two or three servings a week. That would have a huge impact on public health." Another expert chimed in, "Something as simple as a meatless Monday can help. Even small changes can make a difference."
Maybe I'm living in a meat-free urban bubble, but do most people really eat that much red meat in the first place? If one serving a day qualifies as a relatively small amount to researchers, what exactly do they think the rest of us are eating — steak for every meal? I'd be curious to see how this study plays out with subjects who consume red meat say, once or twice a week instead of once or twice a day. Would they still be racing to the grave that much faster than the rest of us?