The Act of Meat Eating

TMAO as a predictor of heart disease risk.

The act of eating meat can be a predictor of heart disease and other potentially life-threatening illnesses.

Research by Dr. Stanley L. Hazen shows that the compound TMAO (TriMethylamine N-oxide) could be a powerful predictor of the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death — even when cholesterol and blood pressure levels are healthy. TMAO has been shown to alter blood platelets and to raise the risk of thrombosis, or blood clots.

In their recent research, scientists at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio uncovered two mechanisms through which a diet rich in red meat raises TMAO levels:

1.) Frequent consumption of red meat enhances our gut bacteria’s production of TMAO

2.) Red meat reduces the elimination of the compound TMAO through the kidneys.

The act of eating meat has been shown to increase the body’s acidity. In order to maintain its normal pH, the body will respond to this acidic environment by drawing calcium and other minerals from cells (bones) as a buffer. Furthermore, because of its acidic effect as well as its anti-biotic content, red meat destroys healthy gut bacteria, leaving the microbiome compromised and increasing the chances of developing leaky gut. A Healthy Gut and Microbiome plays a vital role in the body

• Fundamental to the body’s immunity
• Body’s first line of defence against harmful substances e.g. pesticides, toxins
• Synthesizes (makes) Vitamins B and K
• Increases the absorption of Calcium and Iron
• Facilitates the break-down of food and the extraction and absorption of nutrients
• Influences body weight

Read more about gut health and microbiome in our blog.