New findings, reported last night, show how too much red meat and too many sugary drinks can damage health.
One study links a daily sugary drink to a 20 per cent increased risk of heart disease.
The study, reported in the journal Circulation, comes from an analysis of the lifestyles of some 42,000 health professionals in the USA over a 22-year-period.
A second study links eating large amounts of red meat to increased risk of death from heart disease and cancer.
Eating poultry and fish is linked to reduced risk, researchers found.
The findings come from a study of some 120,000 people over 28 years, reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study showed that eating a lump of unprocessed red meat daily was linked with a 13 per cent increased risk of dying. Eating processed meat daily, such as two slices of bacon, was linked with a 20 per cent increased risk.
Both pieces of research come from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and were led by Professor Frank Hu.
British experts said the findings were a timely reminder of the importance of healthy eating.
Tracy Parker, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "Whilst we need more research to understand how else sugary drinks may affect our heart health, the study reminds us that they shouldn’t be a daily part of our diet.
"Go for healthier alternatives such as water, low fat milk, or unsweetened juices, which are kinder to our waistlines as well as our heart."
And the Foundation’s Victoria Taylor, said: "Researchers suggest that the saturated fat content of red meat may be to blame. However, the study does not differentiate between leaner and fattier cuts of meat, so it would be useful to know if the association is the same when this is taken into account.
“Red meat can still be eaten as part of a balanced diet, but go for the leaner cuts and use healthier cooking methods such as grilling.
"If you eat processed meats like bacon, ham, sausages or burgers several times a week, add variation to your diet by substituting these for other protein sources such as fish, poultry, beans or lentils.”
Red Meat Consumption and Mortality. An Pan, Qi Sun, Adam M. Bernstein, Matthias B. Schulze, JoAnn E. Manson, Meir J. Stampfer, Walter C. Willett, Frank B. Hu, Archives of Internal Medicine March 12 2012; doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2287.
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