Health and Animal Products
In 2015, The World Health Organization (“Who?” My partners likes to ask, a joke I fall for every time) declared processed meat a carcinogen. Not that processed meat could cause cancer, but that it probably causes colorectal cancer. Just four strips of bacon a day increased the lifetime risk from 5-6% which is a fair amount when talking about something like cancer. Another study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health in 2014 found that one serving a day of red meat in adolescence or early adulthood had a 22% higher risk of perimenopausal breast cancer. Each serving per day led to a 13% higher risk of breast cancer overall. And it isn’t just cancer. The National Cancer Institute of Maryland conducted the largest study so far to link both processed and unprocessed meat to an increase in death rates from nine diseases. These include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and lung disease. It isn’t just the animals themselves that are the culprit. It also includes animal products, such as eggs and dairy, which could be as harmful as smoking, according to a study that measured the impact of protein consumption on longevity. The harmful effects of animal protein were almost completely wiped out when the protein came from plant sources, such as beans and legumes. If longevity is not enough of a benefit (understood by a woman who used to dance to songs like “We only have tonight”) then there are a host of other interesting reasons to take a look on the vegetarian side of life. You may gain some healthy bacteria in your gut from the indigestible carbohydrates in plant protein sources. Vegetarians are also far more likely to have lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, lower blood pressure and lower BMIs. It may make your pants fit better and your doctor’s visits less stressful.Would you like to be the first to hear about our new products and more? Sign up for our Nature’s Path Newsletter.