A new study presented to the annual scientific conference of the American Heart Association, found that women older than 50 who eat high-protein diets could have a greater risk of heart failure. Especially if the majority of the protein comes from meat. Although researchers caution more study is needed. (Holistic doctors have been saying this for awhile now, though.)
From the article:
“The study examined the dietary protein intake of 103,878 women, ages 50 to 79, from 1993 to 1998. They self-reported their daily diets, which researchers noted can be unreliable; researchers also used biomarker data to determine actual amounts of dietary protein. Although all participants were free of heart failure during that period, about 1,700 of them developed heart failure by 2005.”
Even after adjusting for age, education, race or ethnicity and heart failure risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease, anemia or atrial fibrillation, the study found that there was a significant increase in the incidence of heart failure where there was a higher protein intake. In fact, the risk was almost double. However, women whose chose protein from vegetables were at a lower risk of heart failure.
The team believe these findings could also be due to “the molecular mechanisms of animal protein;” animal proteins can turn to toxic molecules, which can in turn affect the function of the heart’s left ventricle and lead to heart failure (they can also increase BMI, a risk factor for heart failure).
If you don’t think you can live without meat and you are a woman, perhaps eat a bit less. It can only be good for you.
Source: CNN
