Health

Americans are eating too much processed meat and need to DOUBLE their fish intake


Americans are eating too much processed meat and need to DOUBLE their fish intake to stave off heart disease, obesity and cancers, study finds

  • Processed meat consumption slightly increased from 182 grams per week in 1999 to with 187 grams per week in 2016
  • A diet high in meats such as sausages, hot dogs and lunch meats has been known to trigger cardiovascular disease, obesity and even certain cancers
  • Fish and seafood consumption remained steady, between 115 and 116 grams per week, which is half of the recommended levels
  • Seafood is known for being low in fat and cholesterol, high in protein and rich in omega-3 fatty acids 

Americans are still eating too much processed meat and too little fish, a new study finds.

Researchers say that, similar to 20 years, the majority of US adults could be going through the equivalent of about a pack of deli ham every week.

Meanwhile, they’re only eating half as much fish and shellfish as is suggested by federal guidelines.

A diet high in processed meat, including sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats, have long been known to trigger cardiovascular disease, obesity and even certain cancers.

The team, from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, says the findings show that health interventions – such as excise taxes and health warnings labels – may be necessary to drive down levels of processed meat consumption.

A new study from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, found that US adults are eating about 187 grams of unprocessed meat per week, despite the link to cancer, and not as much fish  (file image)

A new study from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, found that US adults are eating about 187 grams of unprocessed meat per week, despite the link to cancer, and not as much fish  (file image)

For the study, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the team look at almost 44,000 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

They examined how much processed meat, unprocessed red meat, poultry, fish and shellfish they ate over the last nearly two decades from 1999 to 2016. 

Processed red meat consumption barely changed, slightly increasing from 182 grams per week to 187 grams per week.

The most processed meat eaten was luncheon meat, followed by sausages, hot dogs, ham and bacon. 

Several studies have linked excessive consumption of processed meat to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and even cancer.

In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified processed meat as ‘carcinogenic to humans’ in 2015. 

‘I am personally disappointed, despite the strong evidence linking processed meat with cancer risk, that we didn’t see a [decrease],’ lead investigator Dr Fang Fang Zhang, an associate professor at Tufts University, told DailyMail.com.  

‘Ideal consumption would be zero as that what has been specified in cancer prevention guidelines. Either avoid or limit red meat.’  

Meanwhile, consumption of fish and seafood remained steady, with a barely noticeable increase from 115 grams per week in 1999 compared to 116 grams per week.

This is the equivalent of having about four ounces of tuna per week.  

More than double that amount is recommended according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Less than 15 percent meet the guidelines.

The researchers believe that US adults may be consuming low quantities of fish and shellfish due to its high retail price or being unaware of its health benefits. 

Seafood is known for being low in fat and cholesterol, high in protein and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. 

For future research, the team wants to look at the effectiveness of potential public health interventions as well as policies such as an excise tax on red meat or health warning labels.

‘We hope to get a stronger message on dietary recommendations out there and hope the evidence we have can play a role in that,’ said Dr Zhang.



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