Eating Processed Meat Linked to Higher Diabetes Risk
Eating just two slices of processed meat every day could increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
That's according to a huge study that looked at the effect of eating meat on diabetes risk.
Led by researchers from the University of Cambridge, the study looked at data from 1.97 million adults around the world.
The researchers found that eating 50 grams of processed meat — for example, two slices of ham — every day could increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years by 15%.
And eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat — equivalent to a small steak — could increase the risk by 10%.
The researchers also looked at the effect of eating other meats like chicken, turkey and duck, but the results were not clear.
Previous studies have focused on meat-eating in Europe and the US, but this analysis also included data from South America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.
Nita Forouhi, one of the researchers, said the results support recommendations to limit the amount of processed meat and unprocessed red meat we eat.
The World Cancer Research Fund says people should avoid eating processed meat — or eat very little of it — and eat no more than three portions of red meat per week. Three portions is equivalent to between 350 grams and 500 grams.
More than 400 million people around the world have Type 2 diabetes. According to Diabetes UK, we can help reduce our risks of developing it by eating healthy food, limiting the amount of processed and red meat we eat, and getting enough exercise.
