Some astounding new research has recently come out and was reported in the New York Times, with regard to the link between heart disease and red meat. It seems that the new link is a substance found in red meat called “carnitine”. It is found in other foods, in smaller amounts like fish, chicken and even dairy products, but it is predominantly found in meat. When it is metabolised by the bacteria in the intestines it ends up as a substance called “TMAO” in the blood and it is TMAO that is linked to heart disease.

TMAO allows cholesterol to get into the artery walls and also prevents the body from excreting excess cholesterol which leads to the heart disease. Amongst the interesting experiments they conducted, was to have a vegan eat a steak and see whether or not there was an elevation in TMAO blood levels in them after eating a steak and they did not have any elevation, but regular meat eaters do. They also discovered that if they gave a regular meat eater, antibiotics to kill all stomach bacteria before eating a steak, then there was no reaction of increased TMAO blood levels in their blood. The doctor who has conducted the survey himself is still eating meat, but he has reduced his meat intake to once every two weeks – but what really worries the researchers is that carnitine is in fact found in many energy drinks, because people believe that it will speed up fat embolism and increase a person’s energy levels. The doctor said, when it comes to energy drinks, many of which include carnitine, that the supplements “are scary, especially for our kids.”