Avoiding Red Meat Improves Inflammation

Women who avoid red meat are more likely to be at a healthier weight and have lower levels of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Researchers analyzed lifestyle and dietary information in an ethnically diverse group of 275 healthy premenopausal women and collected biomarkers of inflammation linked to cancer incidence. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) cancer prevention guidelines recommend eating a plant-based diet, limiting empty-calorie foods, red meat, and alcohol, avoiding tobacco, and increasing physical activity. Researchers scored participants as low, moderate, or high adherers to WCRF /AICR recommendations and found that those with the lowest scores had an almost two-fold increase in certain inflammatory markers than those who scored at the high end of adherence. Overweight and obese women had substantially higher levels of chronic inflammatory markers than normal weight women, including a five-fold increase in biomarkers associated with cancer risk.

While previous research has established a link to lower cancer mortality with adherence to WCRF /AICR cancer prevention guidelines, this is the first study to analyze the association between these guidelines and inflammatory markers. Women who adhered the most to cancer prevention guidelines not only weighed less, but also consumed significantly more fiber, fruits and vegetables, and less red and processed meat, all of which may decrease inflammation and lower risk of certain cancers.