Earlier research that looked at unprocessed meat and processed meat found that processed meat was associated with an increase in heart disease and diabetes risk, but this association wasn't found for unprocessed meat. This is what might happen if you give up red meat.

Saturated fat and cholesterol are only the start of meat’s diet dangers. Overloads of iron can threaten the hearts of meat eaters; sodium and nitrates make processed meat even worse. It’s no wonder that many experts recommend reducing or eliminating red meat from your diet.

Then there's the planet to consider

Plenty of research has made the connection between raising livestock and increased greenhouse gasses. In fact, a herd of cows may do more damage than a bunch of cars in a traffic jam on the highway. A 2014 study published in Global Environmental Change, found that lower livestock production in Europe led to 25 to 40 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions. Eating more plant proteins--such as tofu, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes--and less animal protein could have a positive effect on both your own health and the health of the environment.
So what should you do?

You can still fit a few servings of red meat into a healthy diet, as long as the rest of your diet is truly a healthy one. When you do choose red meat, select lean cuts and avoid processed meats (bacon, sausage, bologna—anything preserved with salt, curing, or chemicals). The key is to make sure that red meat is only an occasional indulgence, not a daily event. And when you do skip the meat (or reduce your serving size) be sure to fill the rest of your plate with healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit and whole grains.  But beware: You might experience these 11 things if you eat too much meat.

• BMJ. “Association of Changes in Red Meat Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality Among U.S. Women and Men: Two Prospective Cohort Studies.”
• Circulation. “Red and Processed Meat Consumption and Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.”
• Journal of Clinical Lipidology. “A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials That Compare the Lipid Effects of Beef Versus Poultry and/or Fish Consumption.”
• Nutrients. “Associations between Red Meat Intakes and the Micronutrient Intake and Status of UK Females: A Secondary Analysis of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey.”
•         Global Environmental Change: "Food choices, health and environment: Effects of cutting Europe's meat and dairy intake."

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