A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that even a modest intake of two servings of red meat per week may amplify the likelihood of developing this chronic condition.

In the study, researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health analyzed the health records of a substantial cohort of 216,695 participants hailing from the Nurses Health Study (NHS). Over up to 36 years, these participants diets were meticulously assessed through food frequency questionnaires administered every two to four years. Alarmingly, more than 22,000 individuals within this cohort were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The findings highlighted a robust association between red meat consumption, whether processed or unprocessed, and an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes. Participants who consumed the most red meat had a staggering 62% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consumed the least. Furthermore, every additional daily serving of processed red meat corresponded to a 46% rise in the risk of type 2 diabetes. In comparison, every extra daily serving of unprocessed red meat was linked to a 24% increase in risk. 

The researchers noted that substituting red meat with plant-based protein sources such as nuts and legumes or incorporating moderate amounts of dairy products may mitigate the risk of type 2 diabetes. They recommended that replacing one daily serving of red meat with an alternative plant-based protein source could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30%. Similarly, replacing a serving of red meat with dairy products reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 22%.

(Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/harvard-study-claims-eating-red-meat-twice-a-week-can-increase-diabetes-risk-101697727292667.html )