New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat • Hacker News Board

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#11

Post by dragontamer » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:27 PM UTC

giarc wrote: post #2

I agree that dietary research needs to continue but I think the back and forth about what to eat (saturated vs non saturated, no salt vs salt ok etc) needs to slow down. I think the best advice is that by Michael Pollan "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

USDA only updates their dietary guidelines every 5 years. Its simple, specific, and well researched advice. So I like to share it with people who are interested in living healthier.

https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/

Yes, the food pyramid is dead, and there are other changes that come and go through the years. The issue is that "eat your veggies" is so boring it won't make any news.

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> A healthy eating pattern includes:[1]

> A variety of vegetables from all of the subgroups—dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy, and other

> Fruits, especially whole fruits

> Grains, at least half of which are whole grains

> Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages

> A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), and nuts, seeds, and soy products

> Oils

> A healthy eating pattern limits:

> Saturated fats and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium

Dark Green is "Spinach / Kale", red/orange is carrots and tomatoes, starchy is corn or potatoes. There are also survey results in how well the US Population overall is doing. USA doesn't eat enough veggies, and eats too much refined grains (white bread). The typical American needs to reduce refined grains, increase whole-grains, increase veggies, and increase fruits in their diet.

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EDIT: Can someone explain why I've gotten a lot of downvotes? I'm genuinely curious. I don't think I've said anything close to controversial here.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#12

Post by sleavey » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:29 PM UTC

I guess this study gives credence to the relatively old idea that modern bad health (chronic inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, dental problems, etc.) is driven by the high levels of carbohydrate and linoleic acid (omega 6, found in large quantities in sunflower and other seed oils) in our diets and not the traditionally "bad" foodstuffs like red meat and foods containing high cholesterol and saturated fat.

I'm looking forward to the next few years in this field, because it seems like scientists are slowly working out what's wrong with our diets, and it seems like it's not (solely) the meat and dairy we're eating.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#13

Post by thrower123 » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:29 PM UTC

giarc wrote: post #2

I agree that dietary research needs to continue but I think the back and forth about what to eat (saturated vs non saturated, no salt vs salt ok etc) needs to slow down. I think the best advice is that by Michael Pollan "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

If you want to be fit, the best results I've had are to eat meat and vegetables, and not much else.

Going fully vegetarian is just too joyless.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#14

Post by asdf21 » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:29 PM UTC

tobylane wrote: post #10

chrisco255 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think to the contrary, and agree with Amber Heard, "Eat meat. Not too little. Mostly fat." http://www.empiri.ca/p/eat-meat-not-too-little-mostly-fat.ht... But ultimately what we should all agree on is: eat less processed foods, less sugar, don't overeat, fasting is cool, exercise often.

I’d like to see lower carbon cost become an important goal of keto dieters. Eggs, fish, etc count for keto as I understand it. I don’t like the fetishisation of red meat.

I hope farmed fish has a low carbon cost because I'm not trying to poison myself with mercury.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#15

Post by narrator » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:29 PM UTC

Diet science is the most pathetically politicized "science" next to economics. On one side you've got the industry groups promoting their food and giving out grants to scientists to get the right results. On another side you've got the rich radical environmental and animal rights activists wanting everyone to go Vegan and giving out grants to scientists to get their results. It's just a clusterfk of politics going back and forth. Eggs are bad, no they're good. Meat is bad, no it's good. Carbs are bad, no it's good. Fat is bad, no it's good. Protein is bad, no it's good. Or in the words of Bugs and Daffy: Duck Season! Rabbit Season!, etc.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#16

Post by munk-a » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:30 PM UTC

tlarkworthy wrote: post #9

I expect sugar will turn out to be good for your brain (in moderation) and increase your IQ.

Nah, sadly... sugar is crap all the way down - but it tastes delicious.

I just wish we could get some regulations banning it and salt as a flavour enhancer in partially prepared food products like frozen stuff and the pre-made components.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#17

Post by asdf21 » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:30 PM UTC

galangalalgol wrote: post #7

giarc wrote: post #2

I agree that dietary research needs to continue but I think the back and forth about what to eat (saturated vs non saturated, no salt vs salt ok etc) needs to slow down. I think the best advice is that by Michael Pollan "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

As long as we don't call corn syrup or bleached wheat flour plants, sounds good.

Veggies, not grains.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#18

Post by nostromo » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:30 PM UTC

giarc wrote: post #2

I agree that dietary research needs to continue but I think the back and forth about what to eat (saturated vs non saturated, no salt vs salt ok etc) needs to slow down. I think the best advice is that by Michael Pollan "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

I get that there's too much back-and-forth on diet advice -- but I also don't see why we should throw out the scientific method and go all-in on a journalist's non-scitentific advice.

Besides, bread and sugar are made from plants and they'll make you fat. A lot of people would lose weight eating more animal products including eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and meat.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#19

Post by draw_down » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:30 PM UTC

sleavey wrote: post #4

I just figured out a weird trick to read the page on Firefox without the sign-in/register popover: open the page in reader mode and refresh. It seems the popover appears only after page loading has finished, before which the full article is available. Reader mode ignores JavaScript, so this works.

Reader mode just works for me in Safari.

Re: New research questions the evidence for health benefits of eating less red meat

#20

Post by munk-a » Mon, Sep 30, 2019, 9:31 PM UTC

galangalalgol wrote: post #7

giarc wrote: post #2

I agree that dietary research needs to continue but I think the back and forth about what to eat (saturated vs non saturated, no salt vs salt ok etc) needs to slow down. I think the best advice is that by Michael Pollan "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

As long as we don't call corn syrup or bleached wheat flour plants, sounds good.

No sorry, you're thinking of the great American vegetable of ketchup.