Women being put at risk of anaemia by following health advice to eat less red meat
Medics claim that official advice from Public Health England could cause iron deficiency as government doctors worry over link between eating red meat and developing bowel cancer
MILLIONS of women are being put at risk of anaemia as a result of healthy eating advice encouraging them to consume less red meat.
The claim was made by medical professionals working in nutrition and a recent government survey showed that 25 per cent of working age women do not have enough iron in their diets.
Half of teenage girls are also potentially at risk from the condition which can be caused by a lack of iron in the body.
The ‘Eatwell Guide’ from Public Health England is an example of the advice given by doctors suggesting people shout cut down on the amount of red meat they eat, despite it being rich in iron.
Government health advisors are understood to be concerned about a link between red and processed meats with the development of bowel cancer – although it is a connection disputed by some within the medical profession.
Dr Derbyshire told : “Encouraging all population groups to eat less red and processed meat, as the current Eatwell Guide does, is not helpful and places women at risk of iron deficiency and related anaemia.”
Robert Pickard, a professor of neurobiology at Cardiff University, said: “This blanket statement should be revoked. It is poor guidance and an inappropriate public health message that disadvantages women.”
Figures published by PHE show 27 per cent of women aged 19 to 64 and 48 per cent of 11 to 18-year-old girls in the UK are not getting the recommended intake of iron.
Iron is a key factor in helping the blood transport oxygen around the body and when the body can’t do this properly it can lead to fatigue and a loss of concentration – symptoms of anaemia.
The average daily consumption of red and processed meat by women of working age in the UK was 47g in 2013, down from 58g in 2008=
This is the equivalent of about three meatballs and iron deficiency among men is almost non-existent as women tend to be more conscientious about their health when they see eating advice, according to Prof Pickard.
However, Professor Louis Levy, head of nutrition science at Public Health England, said: “Eating too much red and processed meat increases the risk of bowel cancer. There are plenty of other sources of iron, such as green, leafy vegetables and fortified cereals. If women are iron deficient, they should seek advice from their doctor.”
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