The connection between brain/mental health and diet has been making headlines for the last few years. Since 2023, Canada Beef has been monitoring and responding to the growing interest in this topic. This special short report highlights some of the resources Canada Beef has developed that can be used to defend beef’s place in related conversations.
Brain health is a hot topic. Mood and anxiety disorders now rank as the third most prevalent chronic diseases in Canada. Current predictions by the World Health Organization suggest that by 2030 depression will be the leading cause of disease burden globally. And according to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, the number of people with dementia is expected to nearly triple in the next 30 years. Poor diet is regarded as an important modifiable risk factor for brain and mental health disorders.
Unfortunately, beef and other red meats are often vilified in brain-health promoting diets. But as Canada Beef’s research has confirmed, that is regrettably misguided.
The following are among the resources that can be accessed:
For a robust source of facts, statistics and links, Canada Beef developed a dedicated brain health webpage on the Thinkbeef.ca website. You can find that page, which includes hard-hitting messages about beef and its positive effects on brain health here: https://thinkbeef.ca/brain-health
Canada Beef invested in a comprehensive literature review on Alzheimer’s and red meat, which can be downloaded here: https://thinkbeef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/MEAT-AND-ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE.pdf
Read brain health expert and Registered Dietitian Doug Cook’s guest report here: https://thinkbeef.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nutrition-and-Brain-Health_6.pdf
Download or order a copy of Canada Beef’s partnered brain health recipe booklet, here: https://thinkbeef.ca/product/feed-your-brain-nourish-your-mind
Canada Beef has utilized this gathered intelligence to communicate the positive beef and brain story to health professionals and consumers in a variety of activities since this work began. Highlights of some key activities include:
Two webinars reaching over 2,000 health professionals and students
McGill University has made this webinar mandatory watching for nutrition students
Osteoporosis Canada hosted a consumer version of this webinar for their membership
Segment aired on Global News Morning, reaching 145,000 Canadians
Brain health recipe booklet has exceeded 1,000 orders
The connection between beef and brain health is clearly an important discussion for the beef industry and one that Canada Beef will continue to work on as this topic gains further traction, which it is sure to do.
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