The Dangers Of High-meat Diets

Meats like beef, pork and chicken can all make for a protein- and mineral-rich meal, enjoyed either alone or combined with other foods like fresh vegetables or grains. Although meat can provide you with several important nutritional substances, too much of it may also place you at a higher risk of experiencing several negative health effects. Because everyone's bodies and nutritional needs are different, consult your doctor before making a major modification to your regular diet.

Raised Cholesterol

You can only find cholesterol in animal products like meat. Dietary intake of cholesterol can raise your blood's cholesterol levels, thereby increasing your risks of heart disease. Thus, limiting your use of meat is one of the top five cholesterol-reducing lifestyle changes you can make, according to MayoClinic.com. Cap your daily cholesterol intake at 200 to 300mg. A single pound of bottom beef sirloin steak yields 308mg of cholesterol.

Obesity

Many cuts of meat are high in saturated fat. Eating lots of such fat can make you obese. Either minimize your intake of meat or reduce the meat's fat content by choosing lean cuts or manually trimming off any visible fat.

Increased Cancer Risks

The Harvard School of Public Health recommends avoiding all processed meat and limiting your intake of red meat because such meat consumption can elevate your risks of various types of cancer. For example, eating more than 18 oz. of red meat every week makes you more at risk of colon cancer. Meanwhile, a medical research study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2000 analyzed almost 8,000 people and found that the greater the meat intake, the higher the risk of cancer of the digestive tract. On a similar note, cooking meat at temperatures over 212 degrees F releases 17 different carcinogenic chemicals in the meat.

Poor Calcium Retention

If you eat lots of animal-based protein derived from meat, dairy and eggs, you make actually be weakening your bones. This is because such animal protein causes your bones to leach calcium, which your body's system then eliminates through your urine.