Eat Less Red Meat and Live Longer

Eating less red meat -- including beef, pork, and lamb -- could really lengthen your lifespan, according to new research from Harvard. Scientists found that eating lots of red meat greatly increases your chances of dying at a young age from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or any one of dozens of other diseases.

Researchers came to the conclusion by analyzing large amounts of data from 2 dietary studies involving over 120,000 people tracked over 28 years. They found that high red meat consumption was by far the biggest "common denominator" in terms of significantly increasing the risk of death. Processed red meat products like hot dogs, bacon, and salami appeared to have the worst effects -- they increased the risk of death by 20% with each additional daily serving!

Red meat is high in saturated fat (the bad kind) and cholesterol, which can damage the heart over time, among other things. Besides that, according to some experts, modern farming techniques involving large amounts of steroids, hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides in cattle feed contribute to the harmful health effects of red meat. (That's why many natural health experts recommend eating only organic grass-fed beef.)

The bottom line: If you want to live the longest, healthiest life possible you should seriously consider eating only small amounts of red meat occasionally. Definitely avoid processed/cured meats and charred/burnt meat as much as possible because they do some pretty bad stuff to your body!

Learn some mo': Too much red meat may shorten lifespan