Burgers can be part of a healthy diet

Researchers have given people the chance to enjoy cheeseburgers without feeling guilty by suggesting that the fast-food favourites can be good for you, particularly when they are paired with a fresh salad.

Other findings have linked processed meat to cancers and heart disease, but the latest study suggests that modest amounts of unprocessed red meat and full-fat dairy have no overall bearing on health if a person has a good diet.

The results come from a Canadian study comparing diets - as well as the rates of early deaths from strokes and heart disease - across 80 countries.

It established that 85 grams of red meat per day does not do any harm, as long as it is unprocessed like the beef in fresh burgers.

Dr Andrew Mente, from McMaster University in Ontario, said: "A modest amount of meat can be part of a healthy diet."

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