A diet rich in animal protein in middle age is four times more likely to die from cancer than a diet low in protein, a factor comparable to the risk of smoking tobacco.
However, moderate intake of this type of protein is good for people over 65 years of age.
People who eat a lot of animal protein, including meat, milk and cheese, are also more susceptible to early death; they are 74% more likely to die from any cause, and even from diabetes during the study period.
The study shows that while high protein intake during middle age is very harmful, It is protective for older adults: People over 65 who ate a high- or moderate-protein diet were less susceptible to cancer.
They advise consuming around 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of weight each day in middle age. For example, a person weighing about 59 kilograms should eat about 45 to 50 grams of protein per day, with a preference for those derived from plants, such as legumes.