By David Draper

I learned not so long ago that if you don’t like what science is telling you, keep reading the newspapers because surely another study will come along that supports your belief system. You might remember my post last month railing against Harvard post-doctorate fellow An Pan’s study claiming those of us who ate red meat had a 20 percent greater chance of dying. (Kudos to commenter Beerbear who noted: Huh, so I move from 100 percent into the 120 percent chance of dying category...I’ll be danged.)

Well, I knew if I kept searching, I’d find some equally smart folks who would tell me it was okay to eat red meat. This study reported in The Telegraph gives proof to something I’ve known all along: Eating meat makes you happy.

Professor Felice Jacka, who led the research by Deakin University in Victoria [Australia] said: We had originally thought that red meat might not be good for mental health but it turns out that it actually may be quite important. When we looked at women consuming less than the recommended amount of red meat in our study, we found that they were twice as likely to have a diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorder as those consuming the recommended amount.

Now, because I called out An Pan for generalizing, I will admit to doing the same and point out the link between happiness and eating didn’t extend to all meats.

"Interestingly, there was no relationship between other forms of protein, such as chicken, pork, fish or plant-based proteins, and mental health. Vegetarianism was not the explanation either.”

However, I’m not a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard who is trying to support an empirical fact, but instead, just a humble blogger looking to justify his diet and kick-start the conversation supporting my belief (not fact) that all food-based research is biased one way or the other. So, I’m going to keep eating like I do until my own mortality gets too scary to bear, at which time I’ll probably just lie to my doctor.

I think Wild Chef reader Crowman said it best in my previous post: Eat right, exercise daily, die anyway.

Comments (13)

from David Madden wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

Well. Everything is good in moderation but everything can kill me. Exercise is good but too much can quicken stress on the body and promote more pain in later years. Hmm...sitting my butt and walking a little and eating things I like just might make things less painful and make me happier. Wonder what that looks like long term and if I would be a good subject of study? Pass the beer and steak, please.

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from wischneider wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

nice. IMO, it's best to stick to the adage "everything is good in moderation." Eating red meat a few times a week is probably good for you, but eating red meat a few times a day would probably lead to health issues.

Compare it to those studies that say having up to two beers (or a glass of red wine) per day is good for you... but drinking 10 beers per day will most likely lead to health issues (even though it would be enjoyable)

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from Bellringer wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

No matter what you do, some wiseacre will claim it is wrong.

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from dleurquin wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

I think I'll put some venison steaks on the grill tonight and celebrate.

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from MaxPower wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

Of course it makes you happier, eating anything I love makes me happy.

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from Glenda Jaquez D... wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

I don't know about the rest of you, but I could live on red meat and fish. I'll eat poultry and pork, but give me the first two.

And as my dear husband once said. "I live a healthier lifestyle now..Doesn't mean I will live longer, it just means it will feel that way." Now you know why I love him. :)

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from jamesti wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

red meat sure makes me happy!

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from 2lb.test wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

MEAT...GOOD!!! (in a caveman voice)

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from bassman06 wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

Give me steak and a cold one any day! Besides, meat is our ambrosia! However, is hog considered red meat or pork?

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from Hil wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

I make no apologies or justifications for my diet. Even when it includes cream of mushroom soup.

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from Trapper Vic wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

You have got to aclimate your system. If you have been eating beef all your life, You will probably have a long and happy one! If you are a vegan and want to switch, the first burger you eat will probably make you throw up. Pork is considered read meat but has been touted as the "other white meat" for years trying to compete with chicken as less fat!

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from gumby wrote 1 year 6 weeks ago

I didn't realize there was food beyond meat.

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from habben97 wrote 1 year 3 weeks ago

I think I will go shoot some dinner....

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from David Madden wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

Well. Everything is good in moderation but everything can kill me. Exercise is good but too much can quicken stress on the body and promote more pain in later years. Hmm...sitting my butt and walking a little and eating things I like just might make things less painful and make me happier. Wonder what that looks like long term and if I would be a good subject of study? Pass the beer and steak, please.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from wischneider wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

nice. IMO, it's best to stick to the adage "everything is good in moderation." Eating red meat a few times a week is probably good for you, but eating red meat a few times a day would probably lead to health issues.

Compare it to those studies that say having up to two beers (or a glass of red wine) per day is good for you... but drinking 10 beers per day will most likely lead to health issues (even though it would be enjoyable)

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Bellringer wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

No matter what you do, some wiseacre will claim it is wrong.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from dleurquin wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

I think I'll put some venison steaks on the grill tonight and celebrate.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MaxPower wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

Of course it makes you happier, eating anything I love makes me happy.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 2lb.test wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

MEAT...GOOD!!! (in a caveman voice)

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from Glenda Jaquez D... wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

I don't know about the rest of you, but I could live on red meat and fish. I'll eat poultry and pork, but give me the first two.

And as my dear husband once said. "I live a healthier lifestyle now..Doesn't mean I will live longer, it just means it will feel that way." Now you know why I love him. :)

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jamesti wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

red meat sure makes me happy!

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from bassman06 wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

Give me steak and a cold one any day! Besides, meat is our ambrosia! However, is hog considered red meat or pork?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Hil wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

I make no apologies or justifications for my diet. Even when it includes cream of mushroom soup.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Trapper Vic wrote 1 year 9 weeks ago

You have got to aclimate your system. If you have been eating beef all your life, You will probably have a long and happy one! If you are a vegan and want to switch, the first burger you eat will probably make you throw up. Pork is considered read meat but has been touted as the "other white meat" for years trying to compete with chicken as less fat!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from gumby wrote 1 year 6 weeks ago

I didn't realize there was food beyond meat.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from habben97 wrote 1 year 3 weeks ago

I think I will go shoot some dinner....

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Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.