Total Meat Intake is Associated with Life Expectancy

Another study about FOOD!

Not to be too boring, just the tasty parts:

We examined the association between meat intake and life expectancy at a population level based on ecological data published by the United Nations agencies.

Population-specific data were obtained from 175 countries/territories. Scatter plots, bivariate, partial correlation and linear regression models were used with SPSS 25 to explore and compare the correlations between newborn life expectancy (e₍₀₎), life expectancy at 5 years of life (e₍₅₎) and intakes of meat, and carbohydrate crops, respectively. The established risk factors to life expectancy - caloric intake, urbanization, obesity and education levels - were included as the potential confounders.

Worldwide, bivariate correlation analyses revealed that meat intake is positively correlated with life expectancies. This relationship remained significant when influences of caloric intake, urbanization, obesity, education and carbohydrate crops were statistically controlled. Stepwise linear regression selected meat intake, not carbohydrate crops, as one of the significant predictors of life expectancy. In contrast, carbohydrate crops showed weak and negative correlation with life expectancy.

If meat intake is not incorporated into nutrition science for predicting human life expectancy, results could prove inaccurate. 

And another tasty bit!

 

For example, proteins are easy to obtain by incorporating nuts and beans into diet. Vitamin B₁₂ can be absorbed adequately from cheese, eggs, milk, and artificially fortified pills, and iron can be found in legumes, grains, nuts, and a range of vegetables.^84,85 Relying on meat nutrient replacements and available food products, well-planned vegetarian diets, including vegan diets, are nutritionally adequate and are appropriate for various individuals during all stages of life,...

Health effects of a vegetarian diet may be only a perceived benefit. The correlation identified between vegetarianism and high life expectancy may not necessarily depend on their diets, but rather on the lifestyles that vegetarians maintain.¹⁸ It is important to acknowledge that vegetarians (especially in western countries) tend to be more “health-conscious”, with overall healthier lifestyle patterns than other people. 

 

That's it! Enjoy your meal...