New study links regular meat consumption with a wide range of diseases

A major new study from the University of Oxford found that the regular consumption of poultry including chicken and turkey meat, red meat and processed meat at least 3 times a week is linked to a greater risk of many common diseases. The link between meat and cancer has been widely reported, this study looked at the link between regular meat consumption and other diseases apart from cancer.

Using data from the health records of 474,985 middle-aged Britons from the UK Biobank study, the researchers analyzed diet information, medical records, hospital admissions and mortality data over an average of 8 years, the findings are published in the journal BMC Medicine, a peer reviewed general medical journal. The researchers found a link with the regular consumption of poultry with a higher risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux, gastritis and duodenitis, diverticular disease, gallbladder disease and diabetes. They also found that regular consumption of red meat and processed meat was linked to a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, pneumonia, diverticular disease, colon polyps and diabetes.