Beef Makes Rats More Stressed Than Chicken
Short-term beef consumption promotes systemic oxidative stress, TMAO formation and inflammation in rats, and dietary fat content modulates these effects.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
High-fat diets reduced brain MDA by 6.8% — suggesting less oxidative damage in the brain despite higher systemic stress.
It’s counterintuitive that fat — often linked to brain inflammation — showed a protective effect in the brain, while gut and liver damage increased.
Practical Takeaways
If you eat beef often, consider pairing it with vitamin E-rich foods like almonds, spinach, or sunflower seeds to counteract antioxidant loss.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
High-fat diets reduced brain MDA by 6.8% — suggesting less oxidative damage in the brain despite higher systemic stress.
It’s counterintuitive that fat — often linked to brain inflammation — showed a protective effect in the brain, while gut and liver damage increased.
Practical Takeaways
If you eat beef often, consider pairing it with vitamin E-rich foods like almonds, spinach, or sunflower seeds to counteract antioxidant loss.
Publication
Journal
Food & function
Year
2016
Authors
Thomas Van Hecke, L. M. Jakobsen, E. Vossen, F. Guéraud, F. De vos, F. Pierre, H. C. Bertram, S. De Smet
Related Content
Claims (6)
Rats that ate beef had more of a blood marker called CRP, which is a sign their bodies were experiencing more inflammation.
Rats that ate beef had much more damage to their gut cells from oxidative stress than rats that ate chicken, which could mean beef makes their digestive system more stressed.
Rats that ate beef had almost 4 times more of a chemical called TMAO in their urine than rats that ate chicken — this chemical is linked to heart disease and inflammation.
When rats ate high-fat diets, their blood had less vitamin E (an antioxidant) but more of an enzyme that fights free radicals, meaning their bodies were trying harder to handle stress.
Rats that ate beef had less vitamin E in their liver than rats that ate chicken, meaning their livers had less protection against cell damage.