Jake Moscato, 28, wanted to know if a diet exclusively composed of beef and salt could transform his body or “spoil”. From the first days, he found that this challenge was far from simple. Limited food options and digestive discomfort quickly forced her to soften his diet, integrating pork, fruit and eggs from the third week.
He thought he was gaining muscle, this beef -based diet put his heart in danger
At the end of the 60 days, its analyzes revealed a reduction in its fat mass by 16 % to 14.6 % and weight loss from 94 kg to 91 kg, with a muscle gain of 2.7 kg. However, its total cholesterol went from 157 mg/dl to 169 mg/dl, with an LDL (“bad cholesterol”) which had climbed “from 67 mg/dl to 92 mg/dl and an HDL (” good cholesterol “) which drops from 81 mg/dl to 69 mg/dl.”However, HDL cholesterol helps to eliminate other forms of blood circulation cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease “recall the experts. In addition, its testosterone level has increased slightly (748 to 800 NG/DL), an imbalance which, if it remains moderate, can long disturb the metabolism. Even more worrying, its iron rate has doubled (88 to 176 µg/dl): and we know that an iron overload can damage the liver, heart and pancreas, promoting diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Doctors sound the alarm
For specialists, the experience illustrates above all the risks of a diet that is too rich in red meat: this excess makes the bed of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary diseases, stroke and heart failure, increases the risks of cancers (the International Center for Research on Cancer ranks red meat as “substances that can cause cancer”) and even has effects on the brain. A 2025 study has shown that a daily or more red meat portion increases the risk of dementia by 13 % and cognitive decline by 14 % compared to moderate consumption. This is why nutritionists recall the importance of not exceeding 340 to 510 g of cooked red meat per week, or about three portions. Beyond that, the risks largely exceed the benefits observed on muscle mass.
For a sustainable diet, experts recommend a Mediterranean diet diet. Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil and fish, it reduces “bad” cholesterol, protect the heart and support longevity.