White meat affects cholesterol like red meat, research says

One of the main recommendations when starting a new diet is to reduce the consumption of red meat and to choose white meat (poultry and fish), considered less fatty. However, research says that eating white meat can raise blood cholesterol levels as much as eating red meat.

The result surprised even the same scientists involved in the research. According to Ronald Krauss, a senior researcher at Children's Hospital and Oakland Research Center in California, red meat was expected to have a more adverse effect on cholesterol levels, which did not happen.

A total of 113 people were randomly selected to maintain a high or low saturated fat diet without taking supplements or alcohol. Three diets were conducted during the research: one red meat (mainly beef), one with white meat (chicken and turkey) and a protein-free diet (vegetables, nuts, grains and soy products).

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Each diet happened for a period of four weeks with an interval for the person to maintain their regular eating habits. At the beginning and end of each diet, participants performed blood tests.

The results showed that white and red meat had the same effects on blood cholesterol levels, as all people had their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels increased, regardless of the amount of saturated fat in the diet.

Saturated fat usually appears in very fatty beef, poultry with skin, butter, cream and cheese. Excess LDL cholesterol increases the risk of heart problems and strokes.

The research also revealed the need to expand the diets without protein, because in this diet, people had low LDL cholesterol.

The finding was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. However, although rigorous and well executed, the study is small and relatively short and further research may be conducted from now on.