Maharashtra’s ban on cow slaughter may be politically motivated but there is no denying the fact that beef is the most dangerous of all meat. Daily average consumption of 50 grams of beef can cause six to 10 fatal diseases, researchers say.
Researchers at the California University have found that the red meat causes the accumulation of iron in the brain that leads to Alzheimer’s disease. A study on thousands of people using brain imaging techniques found that too much of iron affects the functioning of brain. Studies have also proved that high beef consumption also causes heart diseases.
Beef contains a compound called carnitine. Microbes in the intestine turn carnitine into trimethylamine-N-oxide, which promotes atherosclerosis, a disease which thickens artery walls with fat and calcium and leads to a heart attack. This might explain the higher incidence of heart diseases in Kerala, compared to other states.
Researchers have known for long the correlation between intestinal cancer and a taste for beef. Even 50 gram beef a day can increase by 30 per cent the chances of colon cancer, a study conducted on 1,48,610 people in the US proves.
However, chicken and fish decreases the likelihood of colon cancer.
The fourth serious health concern associated with beef is Type 2 diabetes. Consumption of beef for more than three times a week increases the chances of getting diabetes by 50 per cent.
Humans can get mad cow disease when they eat beef infected with a protein called prions. Though disease affecting the brain has not been diagnosed in India, its presence cannot be ruled out.
Beef also contains a toxic compound called dioxin. This can cause cancer, endometriosis and autism and damage the immune system. Even one gram hamburger contains at least 100 picograms of dioxin, three times the permissible limit. Dioxin creates hormonal imbalance, especially in girls. This also leads to higher-than-average rate of infertility.
Despite such strong scientific evidence against beef, the red meat is promoted for political reasons. It is more dangerous than smoking and drinking.
I do not call for a ban on beef. But it is pointless to organise “beef festivals” to promote the meat. It is better to rely on chicken and fish for our nutrient needs.
(The writer is the vice chancellor of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University)