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We’ve got some bad news for all the meat and dairy lovers out there. Two recently published studies have found some disturbing new impacts related to the consumption of animal products:
Early Puberty
Meat and dairy consumption in childhood may trigger early puberty in boys, according to new research from Fulda University of Applied Sciences in Germany. For the study, researchers tracked food intake of 112 children at ages 1, 2, 3-4, and 5-6. Even after controlling for other factors such as total energy intake and breast feeding, they found that children who consumed the most animal protein entered puberty nearly a year earlier than those who consumed less.
This isn’t the first research linking animal protein consumption to disturbing hormonal changes in children. A 2010 study found that girls who consumed more animal products began menstruating significantly earlier than those who consumed less. Specifically, 49 percent of girls who ate more than 12 portions of meat a week at age 7 had started their period by the age of 12 and a half, compared with only 35 percent of those eating four portions or less.
While early puberty can certainly impact children psychologically, it isn’t just a social issue. Early puberty has been linked to a greater risk of developing prostate and breast cancers, heart disease, and psychological disorders.
Bladder Cancer
Another recent study found a connection between red meat consumption and an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.
For the study, researchers collected data from 355 bladder cancer cases and 409 controls as part of the Los Angeles Bladder Cancer Study. They found that two components of red meat – dietary protein and dietary iron – may combine to form powerful carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents, called called N-nitroso compounds.
Researcher Chelsea Catsburg noted: “Individuals at risk for bladder cancer may wish to avoid intake of red and processed meats.” These results support previous research and recommendations to limit red and processed meat intake.
In case you hadn’t heard, reducing meat and dairy intake is also good for the planet!
Image Credit: Roitsch/Flickr
Did these studies take into account grass-fed, antibiotic and hormone free meat and dairy?
After reading the article and comment,I feel so regret that I do not have a great English knowledge.I thought it was bad to be a vegan but after reading those comments which had written then only I knew it was a sarcasm.I still can’t see any sarcasm and I have to read again. :(
Sorry,I had posted in the wrong article.
Did the study take into account the source of the animal protein? Did it mention the possibility that it wasn’t the the animal protein but the added hormones from the grain fed meat?
Correlation does not equal causality. Also notice that the study was done in developed countries with potentially more access to animals from feed lots rather than pastures. I would hypothesize that the results would be strikingly different had the children been consuming meat from animals raised in pastures their entire life.
Matt
PhysiqueRescue.com