联合国粮农组织（FAO）发布的一份新报告指出，肉类、鸡蛋和牛奶是人体必需营养素（如蛋白质、脂肪和碳水化合物）的重要来源，这些营养素在植物性食物中并不容易获得。该报告基于500多篇科学论文和240份政策文件的数据，强调了这些营养素在怀孕和哺乳期、儿童期、青春期和老年期等关键生命阶段的重要性。报告指出，动物源性食物可以提供能量和许多必需营养素，如蛋白质、脂肪酸以及其他食物类型中含量较低的多种维生素和矿物质。

🍖 **动物源性食物的营养价值:** 该报告强调了动物源性食物，如肉类、鸡蛋和牛奶，在提供人体必需营养素方面的重要性。这些食物富含高品质蛋白质、必需脂肪酸、铁、钙、锌、硒、维生素B12、胆碱以及生物活性化合物等，这些营养素对维持人体健康至关重要，例如促进肌肉生长、认知功能、神经发育、免疫系统功能等。

🥩 **红肉的健康风险:** 报告指出，即使少量摄入加工过的红肉（如培根、香肠、热狗和熟食肉）也会增加死亡率和慢性疾病风险，包括心血管疾病和结直肠癌。而适量食用未加工的红肉（如牛肉、猪肉和羊肉）则被认为对慢性疾病风险的影响较小。

🥛 **牛奶、鸡蛋和家禽的健康影响:** 报告指出，目前尚无确凿证据表明，健康成年人食用牛奶、鸡蛋和家禽与冠心病、中风和高血压等疾病之间存在联系。

🌍 **动物源性食物在实现可持续发展目标中的作用:** 报告认为，动物源性食物是健康饮食的一部分，可以帮助实现联合国可持续发展目标，例如减少5岁以下儿童的消瘦、低出生体重、育龄妇女贫血以及成人肥胖和非传染性疾病。

🐮 **畜牧业面临的挑战:** 报告也指出，畜牧业必须应对一系列挑战，包括环境问题、畜群管理、动物健康问题、人畜共患病问题以及社会问题。

A new report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has determined that meat, eggs and milk are vital sources of much-needed nutrients, such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates, that aren’t easily found in plant-based foods.The comprehensive study, which is based on data from more than 500 scientific papers and 240 policy documents, also stated that these nutrients are critical during key life stages, such as pregnancy and lactation, childhood, adolescence and older age.“Nutrient needs of humans vary substantially over their life course. While there are a variety of dietary patterns that can meet those needs, foods that are rich in nutrients are a critical part of a healthy diet,” FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo and Chief Economist Máximo Torero Cullen wrote in a foreword to the report. “Terrestrial animal source foods provide energy and many essential nutrients, such as protein, fatty acids and several vitamins and minerals that are less common in other food types.”Health benefits of eating animal source foodsSome of the crucial nutrients found in animal sources include:High-quality protein, which is necessary for increasing muscle mass Essential fatty-acids, which help with cognition, neurodevelopment and ant-iinflammatory processesIron, which prevents iron deficiency anemiaCalcium, which contributes to bone healthZinc, which supports vital functions in growth, development and immunitySelenium, which is anti-inflammatory and supports genome-level processesVitamin B12 for neurodevelopment and cell formationCholine for growth, brain function and gene interactionsBioactive compounds such as carnitine, creatine and taurine that promote good healthHowever, not all meats are created equally. The study mentioned that eating even low levels of processed red meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and deli meats, can increase the risk of mortality and chronic disease outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases and colorectal cancer. Consuming unprocessed red meat, such as beef, pork and lamb, in moderate amounts (between 9 to 71 grams per day), carries minimal risk, but is generally considered safe as it pertains to chronic disease outcomes.Additionally, the report noted that “the evidence of any links between milk, eggs and poultry consumption in healthy adults and diseases such as coronary heart disease, strokes and hypertension is inconclusive (for milk) or non-significant (for eggs and poultry).”The bigger pictureFood from animal sources are deemed part of a healthy diet and can go a long way toward achieving FAO’s Sustainable Development Goals, such as reducing wasting among children under five years of age, low birthweight, anemia in women of reproductive age, and obesity and non-communicable diseases in adults.In the report, Semedo and Cullen also wrote that the livestock sector “must contribute to addressing a range of challenges,” including environmental issues; herd management; animal health related issues; human-livestock related issues; and social issues.View the new Fortune 50 Best Places to Live for Families list. Discover the 2024 top destinations across the U.S. for multigenerational families to live, thrive, and find community. Explore the list.