npr:

A new study published in The BMJ can’t tell you exactly how much red meat is OK to eat to maintain good health or prevent disease.

But it does help sort out a big-picture, and perhaps more important, question: What does a healthy pattern of eating look like?

A diet that includes plenty of nuts, seeds, fish, vegetables and whole grains — and perhaps up to an egg a day — appears to be better than a diet rich in red meat, especially processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs.

Already a large body of evidence links processed red meats to an increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

And this new study, which included about 80,000 men and women, finds that limiting red and processed meats may help reduce the risk of premature death.

Read the full story here