Consuming meat and dairy can significantly reduce heart disease risk

A major new study has found consumption of dairy and meat products can actually help reduce the risk of heart disease, the Daily Mail reported.

While previous studies have warned against eating fat-rich diets to improve heart health, the findings in this study suggest saturated fats can do more good than harm.

Researchers came to this conclusion after reviewing five studies consisting of more than 218,000 people from close to 50 countries.

They found those people with the best quality diets consumed plant and unprocessed animal products.

When unprocessed animal products are eaten with fruit, vegetables and fish, it can significantly lower a persons risk of a heart attack, stroke and even premature death.

Study author Professor Salim Yusuf, from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, told the Daily Mail: "Thinking on what constitutes a high quality diet for a global population needs to be reconsidered.

"For example, our results show that dairy products and meat are beneficial for heart health and longevity. This differs from current dietary advice."

The study was originally published in The Lancet.