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Be careful if you are a meat or even ham lover. A study published Wednesday reveals that cold cuts or red meat consumed daily expose us to a risk of developing diabetes. And yet the quantities mentioned are small.
It’s not just sugar and weight gain that you need to avoid to stay fit and avoid diabetes, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinologymeat consumption also exposes us, on a daily basis without us really knowing it.
A risk, from 2 slices of ham or a small steak
The research, conducted by the University of Cambridge, involved nearly 2 million people from 30 cohorts in around 20 countries. Each cohort provided individual data, health data and estimated meat consumption of the participants (red meat, processed meat and poultry). With one finding: meat consumption, particularly processed meat and unprocessed red meat, is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes in all populations.
- Thus, a daily consumption of 50 g of processed meat, the equivalent of two slices of ham, was associated with a 15% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the following decade;
- 100 grams of red meat per day, or a small steak, and 100 grams of poultry were linked to a 10 and 8 percent increase in risk, respectively.
Eat better day by day
These data, which prove an association but not causation, do not mean that you have to cut out meat entirely to avoid diabetes. But they do underscore the importance of reducing meat consumption while adapting dietary guidelines.
So, being aware of the risks and improving your diet remain two essentials, along with physical exercise to avoid diabetes. As a reminder, in France, the National Nutrition Health Program (PNNS) recommends consuming a maximum of 150 g of cold cuts and 500 g of red meat per week. And not every day.