Too much cheese and meat in the diet, after 50 years as dangerous as smoking

It is the result of a study of Valter Longo of the University of Davis passed middle age, take elevated amounts of animal protein increases to four times the risk of getting cancer than those with healthier diet.

Cheese in your diet

ROME - Hidden Dangers to the table as in cigarettes : meat and cheese lovers who have passed middle age should be careful what they choose to put into the pot , since a fourfold excess of animal protein , such as smoking , the risk of cancer deaths and nearly doubles that of death from all other causes.

This is the result which has led to a study of Italian Valter Longo of the University of Davis, published in the journal Cell Metabolism , which has involved over 6,300 people aged 50 years and older.

Question of age. The problem , explains the expert , is that the animal protein in the diet increase a growth factor , IGF - 1 , linked to many diseases . Past the age of 65, however, it is advisable to eat some protein in addition, precise Longo, because at that age IGF -1 decreases and you begin to lose weight and to be weaker .

A diet high in protein from the protein equivalent to taking 20% daily energy intake : 60 pounds for an adult means eating 150 grams of red meat and 100 grams of mozzarella per day . A diet low in protein content corresponds to hire less than 10% of daily calories from protein.

Many risks. Troubling data emerging from the study of Longo : those who adopt a diet too rich in animal protein has a risk of death due to causes other than 74% higher than those who give up some steak. The risk of dying from cancer , however, is the 353 % increase , or the risk of getting sick is more than fourfold compared to those who take less protein . A percentage dramatically similar to that which emerges from the comparison , the risk of death from cancer , a smoker and a non-smoker ( 300 % ) .

The right fit. According to Longo '' ideal protein consumption per person

60 pounds would be 100 grams of salmon and 200 grams of chickpeas per day . Meat and cheese - he explains - are replaced by fish and vegetables , the healthiest sources of protein .'' Not surprisingly, concludes Longo, '' this type of diet is very common for the centenarians of Southern Italy : many of these centenarians have maintained poor diets

protein almost his entire life . In short , we must return to the diet of grandparents .''