According to UNAM, Mexicans prefer to eat ultra-processed foods and red meat over beans and corn.

Experts from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) conducted a study on the diet of Mexicans, and the results were surprising because the population prefers to eat ultra-processed foods and red meat instead of eating dishes that include beans and corn.

That the Mexican population leans more toward diet ‘Carnivore’ While it surprises almost no one and you probably eat more ultra-processed foods than you probably know or are aware of, experts worry about the long-term adverse health effects.

What do Mexicans eat?

The National Autonomous University of Mexico conducted the study under the title “Socioeconomic and Demographic Determinants of Food Consumption in Mexico”., and was published in the journal PLOS ONE. This study yielded the following results.

According to the results of this study, diets based on corn and beans are preserved in the southern region, especially in rural areas, while a higher proportion of red meat prevails in northern and central cities. According to UNAM Institute of Geography researcher, Louis Guibrunet:

“The traditional Mexican diet, which previously dominated the country, is now the main diet for a small proportion of the population that barely reaches 6%.”

The remaining 94% replace their basic diet with wheat and meat, with serious consequences for health and sustainability. These are known as modifications Nutrition transition Which is accompanied by an epidemic of disease prevalence and causes of death, said Ana Gabriela Ortega, professor of the subject at the Faculty of Medicine and co-author of the research.

“For example, before there were more infections and now chronic diseases are increasing,” Ortega said. (…) The nutritional transition contributes to people becoming increasingly ill with diet-related illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.”

Beans on the side and meat as the main course

The consumption of meat instead of beans is of great concern to researchers because of the environmental impact that beef, in particular, leaves.

Compared to the production of 1 kg of beans with the production of 1 kg of red meat, the latter emits 30 to 100 times more greenhouse gases; Six to 40 times more agricultural area is needed; Four to seven times more water and it becomes eutrophic—that is, it provides additional inorganic nutrients from human activities—and 40 to 50 times more water.

Sustainable and healthy food

In this study they explained that traditional agricultural systems, such as milpa, “They have benefits in terms of ecosystem services, as they maintain biodiversity (biological and cultural) and are more resilient to climate change”. Obviously, it is recommended to eat mostly plant proteins, such as beans, and produce crops that are environmentally friendly to ensure a healthy and sustainable diet.

In Directo El Paladar Mexico you can also read Goodbye to meat: This is what happens to your body if you stop eating red meat