How much meat should you be eating per day? What counts as a serving, and what are the recommended guidelines? Get the answers to your meat-related questions.

Understanding Serving Sizes: The Basics

Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining good health, and understanding serving sizes is a crucial part of that. The American Heart Association (AHA) provides clear guidelines on the recommended servings per day for various food groups, including protein foods like meat, poultry, fish, and beans.

For a 2,000-calorie diet, the AHA recommends 5.5 ounces of protein foods per day. This includes 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish, 2 egg whites or 1 egg, 1/4 cup of cooked beans, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, or 1/2 ounce of unsalted nuts and seeds.

Deciphering Serving Sizes: Visual Cues

It can be easy to underestimate or overestimate serving sizes, especially with foods we enjoy. The AHA provides some helpful visual cues to keep in mind:

• One cup of raw leafy vegetables or a baked potato should be about the size of a baseball or an average-sized fist.
• Three ounces of cooked lean meat or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand.
• A teaspoon of soft margarine is about the size of a postage stamp.
• One serving of fat-free or low-fat cheese is about the size of a pair of dice.

Balancing Your Diet: The 85/15 Rule

The AHA suggests aiming to eat healthy, nutrient-dense foods 85% of the time and reserving the remaining 15% for occasional treats or times when convenience takes priority over nutrition.

The Importance of Nutrient Density

Nutrient-dense foods are those that are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats, while being relatively low in calories. These types of foods should be the focus of a healthy diet, as they provide the essential nutrients your body needs.

Meat Consumption: The Ongoing Debate

There has been ongoing debate about the optimal amount of meat consumption, with some guidelines advising Americans to continue consuming red and processed meat at current levels, while other studies have linked these foods to increased disease risk.

Navigating the Meat Landscape

While Americans have made progress in decreasing their consumption of unprocessed beef, pork, and lamb, our intake of processed meats like sausage, hot dogs, and ham remains unchanged. It’s important to be mindful of the potential health risks associated with excessive consumption of these foods.

Tailoring Your Meat Intake

The optimal amount of meat consumption can vary based on individual factors, such as age, activity level, and overall dietary preferences. It’s important to work with a healthcare professional to determine the right balance for your specific needs.

What is the recommended amount of meat per day?

The American Heart Association recommends 5.5 ounces of protein foods per day, which includes 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish.

How do I know if I’m eating the right amount of meat?

Refer to the visual cues provided by the AHA, such as 3 ounces of cooked lean meat being about the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand. Additionally, consider setting a goal to eat healthy, nutrient-dense foods 85% of the time.

What are the benefits of eating a nutrient-dense diet?

Nutrient-dense foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats, while being relatively low in calories. Eating a diet focused on these types of foods can provide the essential nutrients your body needs for good health.

Is red meat and processed meat really that bad for me?

There is ongoing debate about the optimal amount of red and processed meat consumption, but many studies have linked these foods to an increased risk of disease, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. It’s important to be mindful of your intake of these foods and focus on nutrient-dense protein sources.

How can I incorporate more plant-based protein into my diet?

In addition to lean meats, the AHA recommends including plant-based protein sources like beans, nuts, and seeds in your diet. These can be great alternatives to red and processed meat, providing a variety of nutrients and health benefits.

What are some tips for managing my meat consumption?

Some tips include being mindful of serving sizes, focusing on lean and unprocessed meats, incorporating more plant-based protein sources, and aiming for a balanced diet with 85% nutrient-dense foods and 15% occasional treats.

What is a Serving? | American Heart Association

It’s important to fuel your body properly. You may be eating plenty of food. But you may not be eating the nutrient-dense foods your body needs for good health. Nutrient-dense foods have vitamins, minerals, fiber, complex carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fats. They also are relatively low in calories.

A healthy diet emphasizes certain foods and recommends a number of servings per day. But you may have a question: Just what counts as a serving, anyway?

It’s a great question. It can be easy to consider too much as a single serving, especially with tasty foods we like.

Here’s the breakdown of recommended servings per day for several kinds of foods for a 2,000-calorie diet with examples of servings sizes of foods within each group:

Grains: 6 ounces (oz) per day. Serving sizes =  ½ cup cooked rice, pasta or cooked cereal; 1 oz. dry pasta or rice; 1 slice bread; 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal flakes.

Vegetables: 2 ½ cups per day. Serving sizes = 1 cup equivalent of vegetables is 1 cup raw vegetable or vegetable juice, 2 cups leafy salad greens.

Fruits: 2 cups per day. Serving sizes =1 cup equivalent is 1 cup fruit or ½ cup of 100% fruit juice (orange juice, etc.) or 1/3 cup of a fruit juice blend.

Protein foods (meat, poultry, fish, dry beans and nuts): 5 ½ oz. per day. Serving sizes = 3 oz. cooked lean meat, poultry or fish; 2 egg whites or 1 egg; ¼ cup cooked beans; 1 tbsp. peanut butter; ½ oz. unsalted nuts/seeds. Note that ¼ cup cooked beans = 1 oz. protein equivalent but ½ cup cooked beans = 1 vegetable.

Fat-free or low-fat dairy foods (milk, yogurt and cheese): 3 cups per day. Serving sizes: 1 cup equivalent is 1 cup milk or yogurt, 1½ oz. natural cheese such as cheddar cheese, or 2 oz. processed cheese.

Helpful rules of thumb

Here are a few helpful serving size guidelines to remember:

• One cup of raw leafy vegetables or a baked potato should be about the size of a baseball or average-sized fist.
• Three ounces of cooked lean meat or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand.
• A teaspoon of soft margarine is about the size of a postage stamp.
• One serving of fat-free or low-fat cheese is about the size of a pair of dice.

Consider setting a goal to eat healthy, nutrient-dense foods 85% of the time. You can use the remaining 15% for an occasional treat, or for times when you’re crunched for time and have to prioritize convenience over nutrition

And here’s food for thought: Once you start eating right, it will be easier to get your loved one started on some heart-healthy, nutritious habits too.

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors. See our editorial policies and staff.

Last Reviewed: Oct 26, 2021

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An omnivore’s dilemma: How much red meat is too much?

In October 2019, the Annals of Internal Medicinepublished controversial guidelines advising Americans to carry on consuming red and processed meat at current amounts. The guideline authors characterized meat-eaters as somewhat incapable of dietary change, and portrayed the benefits for reducing red and processed meat intake as insignificant. These guidelines contradict previous studies that link processed meat and red meat with early death and an increased risk of disease, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer.

If omnivores are confused, it’s hard to blame them.

Americans are eating less meat, but not less processed meat

To frame their argument, the article authors referenced an average meat intake from North America and Western Europe of two to four servings per week. But we are not France, and about a third of Americans eat more than this. In fact, on average we eat about five servings (17 ounces) of red and processed meat per week.

We have made progress decreasing our consumption of unprocessed beef, pork, and lamb over the past two decades. But our intake of processed meat remains unchanged: sausage, hot dogs, and ham reign among the nation’s most beloved processed meats.

Red meat and processed meat increase disease risk

The message from the Annals guidelines was perplexing and, at times, poorly translated by the media, with some headlines goading Americans to go full speed ahead on their intake.

This is particularly alarming, because recent research indicates eating 3 1/2 more servings of meat per week is associated with a higher risk of death. Consuming more than three additional servings may sound like a significant escalation. But consider that a standard serving equals about 3 ounces, a portion the size of a deck of cards. Eating a steakhouse filet, which typically weighs up to 12 ounces, you could consume roughly 3 1/2 servings in a single meal.

The connection is stronger for processed meats, which have a smaller standard serving size. For bacon lovers, eating a mere four slices more of thick-cut bacon a week is enough to increase risk of death.

Red and processed meat have also been associated with an increased risk of cancer. According to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, there is sufficient evidence to label processed meat as a carcinogen (a cancer-causing substance). Consuming a daily portion of less than two ounces per day — the equivalent of two slices of ham or bologna — is associated with increased cancer risk.

Eating less red meat makes room for healthier foods

Unfortunately, outlining the health hazards of red and processed meat sends a negative message and misses the bigger picture: many of us simply do not eat enough protective foods, and eating less meat would allow space for the foods we are neglecting.

According to the USDA, close to 90% of Americans do not eat the recommended amount of vegetables per day. (Most people should aim for two to four cups daily depending on their age and sex.) Adults are not eating enough legumes, like beans and lentils, nor are we consuming enough seafood. The good news is that replacing some red and processed meat with whole grains, vegetables, and marine and plant-based proteins may help you live longer.

This is helpful for our collective health too, as livestock are responsible for 14% of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and threaten our planet. (Seafood practices also contribute to global warming, but only lobster and crab come close to cattle, our country’s most popular red meat and the animal responsible for the greatest greenhouse gas emissions.)

Shift focus to the foods you should eat more of

Ultimately, we do Americans a disservice if we cast them as incapable of making change. We can’t assume that it would be a burden to switch from beef jerky to nuts or from ham to tuna.

But asking how much meat is too much is, perhaps, the wrong question. Rather, we should really be asking: what do we need to eat more of instead?

How much meat do Americans eat?

At the start of 2018, the USDA projected an increase in consumption of beef, pork and poultry. While overall per capita meat consumption in the United States has risen over the past five decades, according to OECD research, the types of meat consumed have changed dramatically. In particular, the share of beef in total meat consumption is declining. Pork consumption has remained relatively constant, while chicken consumption has more than doubled over the same period. Most Americans avoid carbohydrates in favor of protein for health reasons. However, while the government recommends 5-6.5 ounces of meat for an adult, some people consume almost 10 ounces of meat each day.

Amount of meat consumed

Poultry

Poultry is the most consumed meat in the United States. On average, every American ate 48.8 kg of chicken in 2017. Chicken has become the most popular meat, displacing beef, which has long been a favorite. The poultry industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the US due to the growing demand for chicken products, with companies like Tyson Foods Inc leading the way. This high intake is due to a change in diet, with most people replacing beef with chicken. This shift has been attributed to health issues that link beef to various lifestyle-related illnesses.

Beef and veal

In 2017, Americans consumed an average of 25.8 kg of beef compared to 25.2 kg in 2016. The rise in consumption comes after a decade in which the country’s beef consumption fell by 15%. Increasing disposable income, low prices, and changes in perception have fueled beef’s popularity at most tables. The popularity of beef is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, with the return of hamburgers and other beef products also expected.

Pork

Americans, who have long lived on beef and chicken, now eat more pork than ever before. An American consumes an average of 23.6 kg of pork per year. Pork is most often consumed in the form of bacon. Several restaurants in the US have introduced dishes made with pork belly, shoulder blades and chops. The USDA predicts that pork production and consumption will soon equal and exceed that of beef.

Lamb

Sheep meat is not as popular as beef, chicken and pork. The average American consumes 0. 4 kg of lamb per year. Most people who eat mutton and mutton in the US are immigrants from countries where mutton is commonly consumed. So the US is importing most of its lamb to meet current demand.

Expected Growth Trends

Per capita meat consumption in the United States is expected to increase in the coming years, and this growth is expected to boost the country’s agricultural sector. The increase in poultry meat consumption is expected to continue the rapid growth in per capita consumption seen over the past five decades. For pork, growth will return consumption to a stable level, while growth in per capita consumption of beef will return it to pre-crisis levels. Increasing disposable income, low prices and lifestyle changes are expected to increase per capita consumption.

How much meat do Americans eat?

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How bad is it for your health to eat red meat?

06.12.2019

A new discussion about the dangers of meat and sausages began after the publication of a review in the scientific medical publication Annals of Internal Medicine, which recommended the norms for the consumption of meat products. In a note, the authors of the publication stated that they take into account people’s gastronomic preferences and consider the health benefits.

So how much meat can you eat a day without harm to your health?

Red and
processed meat

meat. “Red” is the meat of mammals, processed is what
obtained by smoking or salting, it also includes products,
made with the addition of preservatives (sausages, etc.).

Dietitians around the world strongly recommend that every citizen review the food system and introduce certain restrictions. The problem is not only in excess weight, but in the harm to health that people inflict on themselves by eating excessive amounts of food. The 2015-2020 American Diet Guide recommends reducing protein (red meat, poultry, eggs) intake by 10 to 26 ounces per week (40 to 105 grams per day) depending on age and physical activity. In the UK, they support a meat limit of up to 70 grams per day.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has also developed a Healthy Eating Plate. To replenish protein in the body, Ukrainians are recommended to eat fish dishes 2-3 times a week, 1-2 eggs a day. And if you eat meat, then the serving size that can be eaten at a time should not exceed 60-90 g and it is better to choose a bird. Visually, 60–90 g of meat corresponds to the size of a deck of cards (as indicated in the food recommendations).

Is the meat of mammals so unhealthy? What about
scientists say?

Consumption of red and
of processed meat and the risk of premature death

The problem is that in a short period of time it is difficult to establish a relationship between the consumption of red meat and the risk of developing cardiometabolic and cancer diseases. Therefore, an international team of 14 people, led by Bradley Johnston, an assistant professor of public health at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, was formed to study the already published data and write a review. Scientists published in the publication the results of only long-term experiments in which at least 1000 people took part and consumption rates were clearly indicated.

Scientists have found that the subjects who eat more meat are:

• married.
• Have
  lower level of education.
• are
  smokers.
• Use
  a lot of fat, few vegetables and fruits and, accordingly, have excess
  weight.
• Physical
  inactive.

Based on the results of the experiments, it was concluded that the consumption of red
and processed meat, although to a small extent, is associated with an increase
overall mortality risk in both men and women. But due to the presence
other factors (harm from smoking and unhealthy lifestyle) is impossible
argue that only excessive consumption of meat negatively affects
health. Scientists have noticed that vegetarians, as a rule,
lead a healthy lifestyle, are physically active, eat a lot of natural
antioxidants (vegetables and fruits), do not smoke or drink alcohol.

Why meat and meat products
harmful to health?

It would be wrong to say that meat only harms health. It contains valuable proteins, vitamins, macro- and microelements. Scientists note that the nutrients contained in meat (vitamin B ₁₂ and iron) are needed by the body in order to be able to form erythrocytes (red blood cells). Protein is necessary for building muscles, bones, etc. At the same time, a meat diet provokes the development of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, creates kidney problems, and promotes the formation of cancer cells.

Scientists suggest that excessive consumption of red meat leads to
to increase blood cholesterol and, as a result, to the development of atherosclerosis
vessels. According to experts, the reason is that compared to white meat
mammals contain higher amounts of saturated fat.

It is also worth paying attention to the process of cooking. Many people like the taste of fried meat, and this food is high in calories, trans fats and carcinogens. Scientists at the National Cancer Institute (USA) found that during high-temperature cooking (frying or grilling over an open fire), the combustion products of fat or juice that drips from meat contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). And in well-done meat, there are high concentrations of heterocyclic amines (HCAs). Surfactants and HCA are mutagens, meaning they cause changes in DNA and increase the risk of cancer.

Moving on to processed meats – sausages, ham and the like. Chemical additives (preservatives, flavor enhancers, etc.) that are used during the preparation of delicacies are in most cases harmful to the body. Here is one example. In order for the sausage to have an appetizing pink color, a small amount of sodium nitrite is added to it. During heat treatment, nitrites are converted into toxic nitroso compounds. Scientists conducted research on rats. The results showed that eating meat that was cooked with nitrites increased the number of precancerous lesions in the rodent colon. Also, processed meats often contain a lot of salt, and excess salt increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and increases blood pressure. The benefits of sausages will only be if they are made from natural ingredients.

So there is red and
processed meat or not?

Let’s turn to the conclusion published by a group of scientists in their review:
“A diet with less red and processed meats can
slightly reduce the risk of mortality.