A new systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 studies involving more than 1.2 millions people from 10 countries found that processed meat such as bacon, salami, sausages, hot dogs and processed deli, was linked to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, but red meat was not.
Participants were followed up to 18 years and found that those who ate 50 gram a day of processed red meat had 42% higher risk of heart disease and 19% higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those who did not eat processed red meat.
Researchers said that the processed meat contain much higher salt and preservatives ( rather than fats) than unprocessed meat and this could explain the difference. They found the same even when lifestyle factors were taken into account and suggested that these types of meats should be studied separately in future research.
Source: "Red and Processed Meat Consumption and Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes Mellitus. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". Circulation. 2010 Published online before print May 17, 2010 ( f/t via Athens)
