Replacing red meat with this food would save thousands of lives: it’s not a vegetable

Because the risks are known, there are more and more scientists analyzing the best red meat substitutes. You can choose other meats such as chicken or fish. Better yet, you can also choose a vegetarian diet with appropriate supplements. But there are those who don’t want a strictly plant-based diet, and those who don’t have the financial means to eat fish as expensive or unavailable as salmon. In these cases, according to a study just published in BMJ Global Healthcould be a great option forage fish.

They are small fish that serve as food for predators such as larger fish, marine mammals or birds. Among these fish we find, for example, herring, sardines and anchovies. They are all fairly common fish, making them easy and cheap to obtain.

In countries with few economic resources, they can be the best substitutes for red meat. In fact, according to this study, they will even save hundreds of thousands of lives a year. 2050.

Why do we need red meat substitutes?

There is no exact definition of the concept red meat. This usually applies to mammals, but primarily pork and beef. In these cases it is meat from lots of saturated fat, which are associated with an increased risk of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, among other conditions. In addition, its consumption is closely linked to the development of certain types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer.

All of this shows the importance of finding red meat substitutes. In countries with higher economic development this is not difficult. There are a variety of options, from white meat to fish, including seeds, nuts and all types of vegetables.

The problem is that countries on the other side of economic development do not have as many choices. They only have cheap and local products left, which are not so affected drought or pests, For example.

In this regard, at least in coastal countries, fishing, widespread all over the world they are a great option.

Benefits of Forage Fish

This type of fish contains a large amount polyunsaturated fatty acids long chain omega-3s such as DHA. Therefore we are faced with the opposite of red meatbecause saturated fats are replaced by unsaturated fats, which are much easier to break down and less likely to accumulate in cells and lead to disease.

On the other hand, these types of fish very rich in calcium and vitamin B12. They are very useful for a healthy diet, but their price is quite affordable, especially in coastal countries. So, do we have fish for everyone?

The authors of the new study developed a computer model in which forage fish are distributed across four different scenarios, in 137 countries. In the first of these scenarios, priority is given to national supplies, with feedstock fish caught for domestic consumption as a substitute for red meat. The second scenario prioritizes substitution in countries where sheep and cattle meat consumption exceeds the recommended level of 15 kcal. On the other hand, in the third case, priority is given to countries where fish consumption is below the recommended level of 40 kcal. Finally, in the fourth scenario, this fish is used as a substitute for red meat in all countries, although to a certain extent it remains subject to availability in each country.

Decrease in deaths

Thus, it was observed that the third scenario would be the one that would generate the most benefits. That is, if countries with fewer economic resources in which They usually don’t eat a lot of fish. If red meat were replaced by this fish, mortality from metabolic and cardiovascular diseases would be significantly reduced.

In fact, in this ideal case they could have been prevented. 750,000 deaths worldwide by 2050. The cost will be that countries with access to fish, but with more economic resources, will give up their share of that fish to those less able to access it.

This would be a fair distribution, but unfortunately it gets more complicated as you go along. overfishing and climate change. Fish such as herring or sardines can be a great substitute for red meat, but this would be almost in an ideal world. To achieve this, they still have to change a lot.