Eating meat regularly could carry a higher risk of a wide range of common illnesses, a new study suggests. Previous studies have linked red and processed meat – like bacon or sausages – to several diseases, such as bowel cancer. But a new study examined the relationship between meat consumption in general and 25 common illnesses other than cancer.
Researchers from the University of Oxford looked at 475,000 men and women who are taking part in the UK Biobank study. Participants reported their levels of meat consumption – which was checked with follow-up surveys – and researchers tracked those taking part for an average of eight years to assess whether they went on to develop any of the conditions.