India, July 23 -- Red meat is often discussed nowadays, thanks to the growing awareness about protein and iron intake. While meat is a good source of both of these nutrients, there's also a downside due to the adverse impact on cardiovascular health. Dr Jyoti Kusnur, consultant, interventional cardiology at Manipal Hospital Goa, spoke in an interview with HT Lifestyle about red meat's ill effects on the heart, increasing risks of heart diseases and spikes in cholesterol.

Elaborating about the nutrient content of meat and the two major types of meats, Dr Kusnur said, "Meat has high content of protein and fat, as well as contains certain minerals such as Iron and Vitamins like B12 (which is only available naturally in animal products). Mea...