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| Tuna and spaghetti |
Food Diary (March 21, 2012)
Breakfast: Rolled oats with banana, sunflower seeds and flax seeds
Lunch: Tuna and spaghetti
Dinner: Gnocchi with braised cabbage
Baking/sweets: Chocolates
Today's Favourite Photo
Triple Layer Chocolate Cake
Today’s Favourite Blog
Last week a study concluding that red meat increases the risk of death from cancer and heart problems was widely published. That was last week. New week, new findings. Sissi from With a Glass brought another interesting study to my attention. The study concludes that “women who reduce lamb and beef in their diets are more likely to suffer depression”.
One thousand Australian women were studied. It was found that women consuming less than the recommended amount of red meat were twice as likely to have a diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorder as those consuming the recommended amount. It was also found that regularly eating more than the recommended amount of red meat was related to increased depression and anxiety. The Australian government recommends eating 65 -100g of lean, red meat three to four times a week.
The relationship between low red meat intake and mental health remained even when the overall healthiness of the women's diets, as well as other factors such as their socioeconomic status, physical activity levels, smoking, weight and age was taken into consideration.
There was no relationship between other forms of protein, such as chicken, pork, fish or plant-based proteins, and mental health.
According to Professor Jacka, an expert in psychiatric health, red meat in Australia is a healthy product as it contains high levels of nutrients, including the Omega-3 fatty acids that are important to mental and physical health. This is because cattle and sheep in Australia are largely grass fed.
So if we put together the results of the two papers, eating red meat increases the risk of death from cancer and heart problems but also lowers the risk of depression. So you decide which one you prefer – heart problems or depression. In reality it doesn’t work this way. These studies are based on statistics and many other factors. But its good to know for sure. If you eat red meat and someone tries to give you a guilt feeling, you can quote this research.
Could this be the new health motto: a burger a day keeps depression away (if you are a woman)! And McDonalds happy meals have become happier, or less depressing!
I loved the look of Lizzy's cake as well!
ReplyDeleteAnd I am sure it tastes as good as it looks
DeleteOh yum! I still have to check out Lizzy's cake ... trying real hard to avoid looking at it but it's beckoning to me from my dashboard.... and now, here!
ReplyDeleteHah! Now I don't feel so bad being a meatarian .... I'm gonna die happy! (How morbid).
Hahaha, its destiny, you can't avoid it!
DeleteGreat news for red meat lovers, at least in theory.
There is so much conflicting healthy information out there at the moment, I think this just makes me more confused!
ReplyDeleteEat some red meat if you get depressed
DeleteI love pasta with tuna! I used to have it quite often when I worked more and didn't really know many quick meals. I could have it more than once a week with different sauces and never got tired of it!
ReplyDeleteThe beef against depression is excellent news (although I would prefer to take lamb instead ;-) and once more confirms that everything is good in moderation...
On the other hand whenever there is a nutrition discussion on French tv doctors say that because of this brainwashing about beef being bad many French women, previously used to have their weekly iron portion with beef, now seriously lack iron which of course is found elsewhere too, but changing eating habits is very difficult and the organism used to beef craves beef, not spinach for example ;-) There was a French doctor who explained that this beef phobia spread to Europe from the US, where beef is much fatter and where people eat bigger portions. A standard beef steak in France doesn't weigh more than 100-150 g maximum and the beef steak is always very lean (less than 100 kcal/100 g), while American usual stake has more than double apparently, not to mention the size.
Tuna is awesome, simple and delicious. Corned beef/lamb that comes in a can is also awesome, and its red meat so good for reducing depression:)
DeleteI can imagine, if you discourage beef consumption consumers will not choose spinach instead, they will probably choose chicken, pork etc. And besides you really need to eat a large amount of spinach to get enough iron.
When visiting the US, I requested the smallest steak and they gave me steak from the kids menu and it was just right for me! And the guy sitting at the table next to me ordered steak that was bigger than the plate, and he already finished half of it when we were leaving. Eating that much of any meat is bad
I have never been to the USA, but I see I was right about the size.
DeleteI know about the spinach (I must admit I have no idea what other vegetables can be sources of iron, so this is the only one that came to my mind...) I have heard that for long years people thought spinach had lots of iron because of a mistake made in the 50s in the US. Someone copying the research results has apparently put a point too far in the number of mg per 100 g and people kept on believing spinach is a super food ;-)
Well...as a woman...I'll eat a lot of red meat to avoid depression but have it with a lot of red wine to decrease the risk of heart disease - now that's a win/win combination! xx
ReplyDeleteYou discovered the secret to happiness:)
DeleteOne of my fave pastas is the tuna and sweetcorn one! simple yet so tasty!
ReplyDeleteooohhh! I like this study! Now I won't feel so bad when I eat red meat! hahaha
We need more burgers to be happy!
ReplyDelete