Animal Protein Research

However, people who eat diets very high in animal protein may suffer harmful changes in their gut microbiome.

Research suggests that people who consume lots of protein, particularly animal protein, have higher risks of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition that may reflect poor gut health.

A 2010 study compared the gut bacteria of children in a rural area in Burkina Faso in Africa to the gut bacteria of Italian

children. 

The Italian children ate more meat, while the children in Burkina Faso consumed high fiber diets, as well as more pea protein. The researchers found that the children in Burkina Faso had more good gut bacteria that they associated with lower inflammation, while the Italian children had more bacteria associated with inflammation and disease.

A 2019 study suggested that red meat may be especially unhelpful, as it raises levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). TMAO is a byproduct of gut bacteria. Researchers link high TMAO levels to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.