RED MEAT vs. WHITE MEAT…let’s get some answers, shall we?
I wrote this blog as a Baptist Health South Florida Parter. As always, all opinions are my own.
Every time I log into Instagram or watch the news I feel like I am bombarded with overwhelming health and wellness information. I am in the health and wellness space and it can be completely overwhelming. Today, I just wanted to share some research backed knowledge about the similar health effects both red and white meat have on our cholesterol. If you have been meal prepping that turkey or chicken breast as part of a ‘healthy’ diet, do not fret! You still can, but I just wanted to share some research with you in hopes to help you when you on your next grocery shopping trip!
The question: Is white meat really healthier than red meat?
Meat does have an abundance of protein, vitamins and minerals, but both red and white meat can be high in saturated fat and have adverse affects on the heart. YES, even white meat. According to a study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and this article by Baptist Health South Florida, red and white meat, primarily poultry have the same effect on blood cholesterol levels. Crazy, right?!
The study was led by scientists at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) – the research arm of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. “When we planned this study, we expected red meat to have a more adverse effect on blood cholesterol levels than white meat, but we were surprised that this was not the case – their effects on cholesterol are identical when saturated fat levels are equivalent,” said the study senior author Ronald Krauss, M.D., senior scientist and director of Atherosclerosis Research at CHORI. The part that was not surprising was that plant-based protein options derived from legumes and vegetables provide the best bet “bang for your buck” in terms of heart health.
The findings of the study showed that keep with the recommendation of a predominantly plant-based diet and the effects of both red and white meat had similar effects on increased lipid and lipoproteins and choosing one over the other would not decrease your risk of cardiovascular health. With that said, there was no lipid effects on plant-protein consumption. As Registered Dietician Lucette Talamas drives home: “Half of the government’s ‘My Plate’ is fruits and vegetables, while the other half is grains and protein,” says Ms. Talamas. “I want to emphasize that 75 percent of the plate has always been plant-based. That may be something you haven’t realized. The recommendations have never had a lot of animal proteins.”
Red meat has gotten a bad rap for some time now, but the processed, cured meat that is high in saturated fat have also been linked to colorectal cancers plaguing our country. So simply proceed with caution. I love what Lucette Talamas says here : “Can you be plant-based and include some animal protein? Yes you can,” says Ms. Talamas. “But in the United States, protein is not a nutrient of concern. Many of us are eating too much protein anyway. You can stick to having a limited amount of animal protein and still have a plant-strong or plant-based diet.”
I also created this blog to help you choose some plant based protein options!