Study: A Diet High In Animal Protein Associated With A 75 Percent Increased Risk of Early Death

Source:  Arjun Walia

Are we designed to eat meat? According to Dr. Christina Warinner, a microbiome scientist, anthropologist, and a Professor in the Department of Archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, no, we’re not. As she states in one of her TEDx talks, “Humans do not have any specialized genetic anatomical or physiological adaptations to meat consumption. By contrast, we have many adaptations to plant consumption.” She was also featured in the recently released popular documentary The Game Changers, where she makes the exact same statement. This is not an appeal to authority, I just think it’s necessary to point to well researched individuals who an provide solid evidence of their hypothesis.

A study published in 2014  in Cell Metabolism found that a diet high in animal protein is strongly associated with a 75 percent increased risk of early death from all causes. It also found that a diet high in animal protein increased risk of premature death from most forms of cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes, by 400 to 500 percent.

What’s interesting that these associations were found with animal protein, and that “These associations were either abolished or attenuated if the proteins were plant derived.

The researchers of the study state:

When the percent calories from animal protein was controlled for, the association between total protein and all-cause or cancer mortality was eliminated or significantly reduced, respectively, suggesting animal proteins are responsible for a significant portion of these relationships. When we controlled for the effect of plant-based protein, there was no change in the association between protein intake and mortality, indicating that high levels of animal proteins promote mortality and not that plant-based proteins have a protective effect.

You can refer to the study for more details.

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