If adults in the U.S. ate 30% less red meat like beef or pork, computer models predict we could avoid hundreds of thousands of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer cases—and save tens of thousands of lives—over 10 years.

If most adults in the U.S. ate 30% less red and processed meat, models predict we could avoid over a million diabetes cases, hundreds of thousands of heart problems, and tens of thousands of cancers and deaths in 10 years.

If adults in the U.S. ate 30% less processed meat like bacon and hot dogs, we could prevent hundreds of thousands of health problems — including diabetes, heart issues, cancer, and deaths — over the next 10 years.

Eating a lot of red meat — especially processed kinds like bacon or sausages — might increase your chances of dying from heart disease, and this seems to affect women more than men.

Eating more unprocessed red meat might seem linked to lower risk of a certain type of colon cancer in health pros, but it's probably because these folks eat healthier overall — not because the meat itself is protective.

Eating processed meats like bacon or sausage is more likely to cause long-term health problems than eating plain red meats like steak, according to health studies.