News to cheer your heart... cheese and steak extend lives!

AFTER years of being branded the enemies of a healthy diet, red meat and full-fat cheese are back on the menu.

Eating three portions of dairy and a small serving of unprocessed meat a day cuts the risk of early death by a quarter, according to a major study.

The findings suggest a good diet would include nearly twice as much red meat and three times as much dairy as recommended by health authorities.

Scientists said the results ‘challenge conventional wisdom’ after years of advice to cut down on these ingredients. The authors – led by McMaster University in Canada – said that people who reduce their intake of meat and dairy simply replace it with processed carbohydrates such as bread and sugar.

Current guidance from Public Health England says dairy should make up just 8 per cent of daily calories – allowing one portion such as a single yoghurt or two small cheese slices. Meanwhile red meat should be limited to 70g (2.5oz) a day, officials say.

The global study – which tracked 220,000 people from 52 countries for nine years – found that eating higher levels would actually be healthier.

It suggested the best diets include three portions of dairy – such as two slices of cheese, a small pot of full-fat yoghurt and half a pint of whole milk. This would be around 25 per cent of daily calorie intake.

It also included 120g (4.3oz) of unprocessed red meat – such as a small steak the size of a deck of cards.

Professor Salim Yusuf from McMaster, presenting his findings at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich yesterday, said: ‘The thinking on what constitutes a high quality diet needs to be reconsidered. Our results show that dairy and meat are beneficial for heart health and longevity. This differs from current dietary advice.’

The team stressed that those with the healthiest outcomes also had to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as a moderate amount of carbohydrates such as pasta and rice.

Fellow researcher Dr Andrew Mente said after years of debates about the relative benefits of fat and carbohydrates, the focus should now shift to eating wholesome, unprocessed food.

‘Our findings on full-fat dairy and unprocessed red meat do challenge conventional thinking,’ he said. He believes part of the benefit of meat and dairy is that a moderate amount of sat- urated fat actually protects the heart. As well as providing energy, fat is needed to carry vitamins and also provides the body with essential acids.

‘These are nutrition-rich foods whereas with carbohydrates a lot are processed,’ Dr Mente added. ‘It’s not natural and it is much lower in nutrients.

‘Eat a diet that contains plenty of fruit and vegetables, also nuts, legumes, fish, dairy and unprocessed red meats – but all in moderation.

‘There is no need to avoid eating any particular food group.’

Processed red meat – such as bacon, ham and sausages – was not found to improve health. Scientists believe this is because it often contains additives such as salt and nitrites.

The study did not include white meat, but Dr Mente said separate analysis suggested it would have similar benefits.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, from the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘Meat and dairy can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet as long as they’re eaten in moderation.’

Professor Louis Levy, from Public Health England, defended existing guidance. He said: ‘While we agree that dairy plays a role in a diets, too much can lead to high levels of saturated fat and salt increasing our risk of heart disease.’