Post by Joann on Mar 24, 2009 12:18:43 GMT -5
My bottom line in reading meat or animal fat studies purporting to show harmful effects from eating meat is as follows:
A preference for red meat has characterized the diet of humans since pre history.
The diseases said to be associated with eating red meat have been sharply increasing in the last 50 years.
Despite assertions from Michael Pollan and others, per capita meat consumption by Americans has declined over the last 100 years.
Consequently any relationship between degenerative disease and consumption of red meat must be due to other factors. Without exception, all anti red meat studies have included processed meats (deli meats, hot dogs, commercially processed hams and bacon). Without exception these contain known carcinogens grandfathered in by FDA regulations. No studies I have ever seen distinguish between fresh red meat and processed meats.
In addition, modern animal feeding introduces numerous health threats. These impact red meat more than white meat because red meat animals live longer.
The study published today is further weakened by the fact that it targeted a middle and upper middle income white population. This group, especially females, is so steeped in "healthy eating" propaganda, that they have been deliberately avoiding red meat and simultaneously adopting many health promoting practices for decades. By default, the red meat eaters will tend to be a population less fixated on health. This is going to show up in an array of behaviors capable of scewing study results.
Finally, diet recall studies are notoriously a weak tool for zeroing in on any specific dietary behavior. They continue to be used because we don't have anything better. But you never know for sure what you are measuring. For all we know, middle class female eaters of white meat may also be taking more vitamins. Or doing more bicycle riding. Or attending church more often. Or not attending church at all. Or reading more books. You just don't know. Epidemiological studies, which includes all diet recall studies, serve as road signs we can follow toward hard facts.
Joann
Joann