If you love steaks, bacon, or burgers, the latest nutrition report may come as a shock.
An international team of researchers from the EAT-Lancet Commission now recommends eating no more than 15 grams of red meat per day.
That is roughly the size of a single slice of cold cut.
Instead, the report encourages a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
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According to the researchers, this approach benefits both your health and the planet.
The guidelines, published in a detailed report, aim to balance nutrition and sustainability.
Anna Stubbendorff, a nutrition epidemiologist at Lund University, highlights that the strength of the EAT-Lancet diet lies in its precision.
She notes that the recommendations are specific down to the gram, making them easier to follow in everyday life.
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The hidden danger in processed foods
A major new focus in the report is on ultra-processed food.
This category includes items that have been heavily altered from their original form and often contain additives, such as chips, soda, and ready-made meals.
According to the researchers, these foods can be linked to as many as 32 different diseases, including cancer, heart disease, dementia, and atrial fibrillation.
They emphasize that reducing processed food intake is just as important as cutting back on meat.
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The findings underline that health risks are not only about how much meat we eat but also about what we replace it with.
Choosing whole and natural ingredients can make a profound difference for long-term well-being.
A global challenge
While the diet offers clear benefits, it also presents challenges.
Anna Stubbendorff points out that in low-income countries, it may be difficult for people to afford the recommended amounts of vegetables and legumes.
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For that reason, she suggests that dietary advice should be adapted regionally to ensure it remains realistic and accessible.
The EAT-Lancet group first released their recommendations in 2019.
Now, they estimate that if people worldwide shifted from steaks to beans, up to 15 million lives could be saved each year.
Source: Videnskab.dk, and The Lancet.
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