The facts: Is white meat as harmful to the heart as red meat? – National

If you're at risk for heart problems, dietary advice has long been about avoiding red meats.

But a new study suggests that simply replacing your steak with chicken may not be the answer.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that the consumption of white meat does not reduce the levels of essential harmful proteins more than the consumption of red meat.

In this study, the researchers took 113 people and badyzed levels of atherogenic lipoproteins, such as LDL cholesterol, in their blood after trying various diets: red meat, white meat and meat.

READ MORE:
Processed meat can increase the risk of cancer; Risky red meat too

The researchers found that people eating red or white meat had high levels of cholesterol and other atherogenic lipoproteins known to contribute to the risk of heart disease. People on a meatless diet have much lower lipid levels.

The results surprised researchers, according to a press release.

"When we planned this study, we expected red meat to have a more negative effect on blood cholesterol levels than white meat, but we were surprised that this was not the case – their effects on cholesterol are the same when saturated fat levels are equivalent, "co-author Ronald Krauss, Senior Scientist and Director of Atherosclerosis Research at the Children's Hospital Research Institute. d & # 39; Oakland.

WATCH: 5 Things To Know About Canada's New Food Guide

But how bad is the chicken?

According to this study, it would be premature to completely remove white meat from your diet, said Dr. Michael Farkouh, director of the Peter Munk Cardiac Center's clinical trials unit at Toronto General Hospital.

"It's just a provocative study," he said. The researchers looked at only a few indicators of disease risk, not whether, eventually, people eventually developed heart disease or other health problems, he said.

READ MORE:
How much processed meat and red meat should you eat?

"There is really no difference between red meat and white meat on this marker," Farkouh said. "The theory is that diets containing white meat should be badociated with better results, but we simply do not have results in this trial. You do not have the rates of heart attack, stroke and mortality. "

More research is needed to confirm whether white meat increases the risk of cardiovascular problems as much as red meat, he said.

READ MORE:
Can you cut red meat off your diet and stay healthy?

Red meat is badociated with problems though. Two recent studies that followed 81,000 people combined showed that an increase of half a serving of red meat a day was badociated with a 10% higher mortality risk. The consumption of red meat – especially processed meat – has also been badociated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

"Excess red meat is absolutely badociated with excessive cardiovascular risk," Farkouh said. "So, this is directly related to more cardio, more heart attacks and more cardiovascular events."

"We have spent a lot of studies and spent money and money studying red meat. We use white meat as an alternative. And this raises the question of whether this is valid or not.

WATCH: New trend is for Canadians to switch from meat-based diets to herbal diets

Carol Dombrow, Heart and Stroke Dietician, also noted that the study did not compare different types of white meats: a skinless chicken bad, for example, is very different in terms of saturated fat content compared to a thigh chicken with the skin.

But for her, what really matters is the results of the study on herbal diets.

"This is the positive result of this study: when you consume vegetable protein, it's very positive in terms of heart disease."

"For me, the purpose of this study is to actually increase your vegetable protein."

That does not mean you have to give up the meat completely, you just have to look at the size and frequency of the portions, she said, and choose leaner meats. These recommendations are similar to those in Canada's recently updated Food Guide.

READ MORE:
New Canadian Food Guide Focuses on Plant Consumption, Water Use and Home Cooking

She fears that according to this study, people are afraid to eat white meat, she said. She prefers to focus on the benefits of herbal foods and notes that red and white meats can still be part of a healthy diet.

Farkouh agrees. "I do not think people should do that, because white meat is bad for you, but non-meat seems to be better for those non-thermogenic particles."