The right proteins are a powerful ally in your pursuit of optimal health and my standard advice for making the best protein choices just got a big boost on the healthy heart front.  After following the diets of over 84,000 women for 26 years, Harvard investigators determined that eating red meat and full-fat dairy products increased the risk of getting heart disease, while eating more poultry, fish and nuts decreased the risk.  (Circulation, Aug 2010)

Specifically, investigators found that women who substituted a serving of any of the following proteins for a daily serving of red meat could expect the following reduced risk of heart disease:

Nuts – 30% lower
Fish – 24% lower
Poultry – 19% lower
Low-fat dairy – 13% lower

I recommend that all adults limit red meat to 2 servings or less a week and to be especially vigilant in restricting processed red meat.

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