Red meat consumption within high-quality diets may support mental health, study finds

Medical Xpress / South Dakota State University / Current Developments in Nutrition ^ | Aug. 12, 2025 | Addison DeHaven / Samitinjaya Dhakal et al

[ConservativeMind]

Red meat has long been associated with cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death globally. But new research offers a new perspective.

According to Samitinjaya Dhakal, including red meat in high-quality diets improves adequacy of nutrients related to mental health and was associated with favorable shifts in gut microbial diversity.

"What was really compelling was the significant nutritional benefit we saw in healthy eaters who consumed red meat," Dhakal said. "This suggests the public health message shouldn't be about complete elimination, but rather about building a high-quality diet into which lean red meat can fit."

Dhakal and his research team utilized data from the American Gut Project, the largest open-source microbiome initiative to date.

From the database, 4,915 adults were categorized into four different groups based on their diets and red meat consumption. The U.S.D.A.'s Healthy Eating Index, which measures diets based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, was used to score each individual's diets based on a 0–100 scale.

The four categories were high healthy eating index (greater than 80) with red meat consumption; high healthy eating index without red meat consumption; low healthy eating index with red meat consumption; and low healthy eating index without red meat consumption.

"What we saw is that people following a high-quality diet maintained a healthy weight, regardless of whether they ate red meat or not," Dhakal said. "But within that healthy context, the red meat consumers showed a benefit not just in protein intake, but importantly, in meeting their needs for brain health-critical nutrients like zinc, selenium, vitamin B12 and choline."

Higher healthy eating index scores, regardless of red meat consumption, showed lower odds of depression, PTSD and bipolar disorder. Strong gut microbial diversity was linked with high healthy indexes and red meat consumption.

[MayflowerMadam]

How about... NO!?

[trebb]

I learned decades ago that “conventional wisdom” wasn’t.

My body likes salt - I’m 72 and my BP averages 116/67.
I like eggs and my cholesterol has never been “too high” (but they did try to put me on statins because I was over 55 and a male despite no problems - I declined).
I love rare red meat and noticed my body seems to digest it better than many of the “it’s really good for you” crap.

I don’t think the foods we grew up with were the problem - problems started occurring when portions got too big and exercise became a memory.

[sauropod]

Bkkk

[miniTAX]

“we ate meat, fish, fowl, woodland berries and nuts and some tuber plants. We were hunter gatherers.”

---

We were hunters, period. Up until 20 thousands years ago, Europeans lived in the ice age, with Northern Europe covered by a permanent icesheet down to Belgium. They would be out of luck gathering tuber plants. So until you show me cave paintings with plants, let alone nuts, the “gatherers” part is a myth.

[GaltAdonis]

I was anemic probably because of not eating enough meat.
I changed that situation and my hemoglobin numbers from my recent bloodwork
indicate that the problem has resolved.

So to celebrate last night for dinner I ate not one, but two big cheesesteaks with peppers and onions.
Mmmm….

[Sacajaweau]

I make beef stew, Beef Barley or chicken soup, and soups.

So I get my vegies, too.

Off to Aldi for celery and carrots.

I've eaten the same since I was a little kid.

[goodnesswins]

I think different people do have different needs...I have found I NEED more meat/chicken/ fish protein...my hub needs Beans

[Sacajaweau]

I agree...we’re all unique. I watch my protein, too....cuz I’m 80.

[goodnesswins]

I am not that far behind you...and have learned as we age we need lots more protein.

[GaltAdonis]

“Beans”

I like lentil soup - brown lentils.
I need to find out what the protein amounts are for Red lentils.
I like red lentils as an ingredient for other soups - like minestrone or vegetable.
Or chicken corn chowder - which I have not made in quite some time. Hmmm…

[goodnesswins]

Just remember...lentils alone are not a whole protein...

[Songcraft]

:-)

I feel the same way about that as you do.   I just wanted to put it out there on this thread, as the bovine brain is the only part of its entire body which can, undeniably and indisputably, be called "brain food".

However, when you see how many Europeans appear to be crazier than buzzard beaks, it does not reflect well on the effectiveness of that particular meat in supporting mental health in humans.