Attention big consumers of meat, one of them is very bad for your health! And surprisingly, this time, it's not about red meat. Here’s what you need to limit for your health!
It is well known that doctors generally recommend limiting red meat. A recommendation which is not trivial when we know that excessive consumption can promote cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cholesterol and certain types of cancer. However, this time it is another type of meat which is criticized, and it could be that it is consumed even more.
What meat is this?
Certainly one of the most consumed in the world, the meat in question comes in many forms. Sausage, ham, salami, bolognese or even nuggets, it is omnipresent in our diet, and in particular among our neighbors the Americans.
In Europe, at least 94% of the population consumes it at least once a week, generally in the form of cold meats. It is often found in prepared meals, and in most supermarket food aisles. You guessed it, it is the processed meat. According to nutritionists, it is by far the most unhealthy meat, ahead of red meat.
What are the risks associated with its consumption?
If nutritionists and doctors point the finger at processed meat, it is mainly because of its more than poor composition. Whatever form it takes, it is made with pieces of different meats to which animal fats, additives, preservatives and other chemicals (nitrates, nitrites, etc.) are added in very large quantities. . This mixture is then cooked, dried or smoked in order to extend the shelf life as much as possible.
The risks ? Between obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and many others, and even if chronic diseases are multifactorial, all studies tend to prove that diet plays a major role in their occurrence and their complications, as the recognized by the World Health Organization. It is therefore imperative to limit excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods. If they can “help out”, their consumption must remain occasional and not the basis of a daily diet.
To spot them, simply rely on the list of ingredients which is generally very long, made up of unknown or difficult to read ingredients. These products are regularly on promotion, because they are inexpensive to produce, and sometimes contain misleading information such as “low in sugar (in salt or fat) or “sans gluten”. Look in detail at the labels!
Slide: Avoiding the harmful health effects of red meat
