A lot of hearty dishes include meat. Some prefer to eat meat because it’s rich in protein and other nutrients, hence, helps build muscles and makes the body stronger. Others consume meat for health reasons while others eat it just because it tastes delish for them. People have different preferences when it comes to eating meat. Some prefer to consume white meat because it has less fat than red meat, while others select meat according to its parts. Some prefer liver because it’s rich in iron, others like fats because it’s rich in taste especially when it’s roasted with herbs, while weight-conscious individuals like lean parts. Whatever your meat preference may be, excessive consumption of meat can affect your health. It can increase body fat and lead to diseases. The effect of eating meat can vary from person to person. To some, it may manifest quickly, while it may take some time for others. Most of the time, the negative effects of consuming meat can only be observed after many years of consuming it.
Meat and sugar levels
A strict one-year meat diet can temporarily affect blood sugar and cause glycosuria or the presence of sugar in urine. This finding was obtained from the Russell Sage Institute of Pathology study in the 1920s. The experiment involved two normal healthy adult men namely K. A. and V. S. who were asked to follow a diet composed of merely lean and fat meat for one year. The subjects were allowed to eat the meat cooked or raw. Their diet was high fat, and low carbohydrate, and consisted of an average of 120 grams protein and a 2600 to 3000 caloric intake. After having an exclusively lean and fat meat diet, the two men had their glucose tolerance tests to see the effect of one year’s consumption of meat on carbohydrate tolerance. The first glucose test was done immediately after the meat-fat diet was discontinued. To administer the tests, a solution was given to them 10 to 12 hours after their last (meat) meal. Each subject received 100 grams of glucose in 230 cc. of water that was flavored with 20 cc. of orange juice. Evaluation results revealed that K. A.’s hyperglycemia or high blood sugar levels increased and was prolonged, and had glycosuria. Moreover, K. A. developed pneumonia eight or nine hours after the first glucose tolerance test. Meanwhile, V. S. only had an increase in hyperglycemia and his urine was sugar-free. In summary, the first glucose test result showed that after the meat diet, there was a glycosuria in one man and a blood sugar level increase in both men. The other glucose test was conducted two or more weeks after the men resumed having a general or mixed diet. At this time, four weeks have passed since the glucose test and K.A. has recovered and reported to be in good condition for his second test. Meanwhile, V. S. was in good health, his blood sugar presented no abnormalities and his urine was sugar-free. Both men’s blood sugar levels were within normal limits, and their urine was sugar-free.
Reference:
- (1) Tolstoi E. The Effect of an Exclusive Meat Diet Lasting One Year on the Carbohydrate Tolerance of Two Normal Men. 1929. Journal of Biological Chemistry/83 (3): 747-752. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9258(18)77101-9
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