198. Eating lots of red meat and processed foods can increase your risk of early death
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Frequently eating processed foods and red meat are linked to an increased risk of early death, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers at Loma Linda University collected data from over 77,000 members of Seventh-Day Adventist churches, who typically follow healthy diets. Each participant completed a questionnaire about how frequently they ate about 200 foods. The researchers found that people who obtained half of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods had a 14 percent increase in mortality compared to people who received only obtained a fraction of their total calories from ultra-processed foods, like soft drinks, candy, and other foods typically sold in bags, boxes, cans, or frozen food packages. Other than ultra-processed foods, they observed that people who consumed red meat every day had an 8 percent higher risk of mortality.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
