Is white meat more healthful than red meat?

A new study suggests that eating poultry is just as bad for our cholesterol levels as eating red meat. White meat is just as harmful to cholesterol levels as red meat. 

The study found that consuming both red and white meat raised blood cholesterol levels more than consuming equivalent levels of plant-based proteins. The raised levels of cholesterol did not depend on whether the diets also had high levels of saturated fats (in general, red meat has more saturated fats than white meat and eating foods that contain saturated fats raises the level of cholesterol in our blood. High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in our blood increase our risk of heart disease and stroke).

Meanwhile, abstaining from eating meat altogether lowered blood cholesterol much more than researchers had previously believed. Non-meat protein sources, such as vegetables, dairy and pulses, have the most beneficial effect on cholesterol levels.

“The findings are in keeping with recommendations promoting diets with a high proportion of plant-based food but do not provide evidence for choosing white over red meat for reducing cardiovascular disease risk,” write the researchers.