While the title may not seem like the discovery of the century, two new studies do reinforce what we already knew: that animal protein is linked to cancer and diabetes in adults. The studies are not saying that any animal protein could cause cancer and diabetes, but too much protein is a direct cause of cancer and diabetes during middle age. This should put in perspective your diet and the role of carbs, meat and sugar.
Animal Protein is Linked to Cancer – Too Much Protein As Harmful As Smoking
Two studies that have been published in the Cell Metabolism journal and were conducted by the University of Southern California in the US and the University of Sydney in Australia found that low protein intake may be the key to living a long and healthy life and that we should examine more carefully where our calories are coming from, plants or animals. The studies have concluded that for weight loss, a high-protein diet could only help in the short term and that if continued in the long term it will reduce lifespan and harm health.
One of the doctors who were involved in the study reported that the study provided evidence that a high-protein diet (animal-based proteins in particular) is almost as harmful as smoking for your health and that adults who consumed a high-protein diet had the highest risk of developing cancer and diabetes.
These studies were performed on both humans and mice; almost 7,000 Americans took part in an US national survey that assesses diet and health and revealed that people who consumed moderate amounts of proteins were three times more likely to die of cancer and that these effects were reduced or disappeared in those people whose high-protein diets were plant-based. But what does a high-protein diet means? The scientists concluded that a high-protein diet is one where at least 20% of the calories that are ingested come from protein.
These two new studies simply reinforce what people and doctors already knew: animal protein is linked to cancer and diabetes, so if you would like to live a long and healthy life, then you should stick to plant-based proteins and diets.
