Are we eating too much meat? Dr. Michaela Bilic explains the effects
We consume more meat than our grandparents and parents, and there are health consequences. Dr. Michaela Bilic comments on the consequences of increased meat consumption.
“Too much meat is bad... especially for children.
High protein intake at 4 years old means extra pounds at 7 years old!! While we have so far blamed sugar and fat for excess weight, recent studies show that too much meat leads to obesity.
The International Journal of Obesity published a study in Portuguese of 2,000 children as part of the Generation XXL project. Researchers have found that excessive protein intake (2-3 times the daily value) at age 4 years leads to an increase in BMI several years later.
The body's requirement is 1 g protein/kg body/day, but much more is consumed in developed countries. We even eat meat 3 times a day when we should eat 3 times a week. And not only meat is to blame, but also excessive consumption of sausages and processed foods, eggs, cheeses or even proteins of plant origin.
Fearful of gaining extra pounds, many children are given high-protein, low-carb menus. In fact, flour provides energy for movement, and excess protein predisposes to obesity. And the perception of fat consumption is wrong. Parents believe that a low-fat product is healthier and avoid butter, whole milk or pork.
The daily intake of fat for children should exceed 35% of the total calorie intake; hormones are synthesized from fat and the brain develops. Children need fats more than adults for growth, development and functioning of the body.
As for childhood obesity, it involves restrictive measures related solely to quantity! Diet is not the goal, but changing the size of the goal. An overweight child needs to eat less and move more. The only solution to control your figure is to reduce your overall food intake, i.e. less protein, less sugar, less fat... Oddly enough, it is healthier to be thin and undernourished than to be loaded with protein. !,” explains Dr. Michaela Bilic.
