Recent headlines declared that eating any animal protein at all will send you to an earlier grave than eating a vegetarian diet.

That one set off quite a commotion.

True, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital looked at data from two studies in which 170,000 participants were tracked for over 26 years and found that meat eaters had a shorter life span than non-meat eaters.

But that's not the complete story.

When they dug down into the data, they found that it's the source of the protein, combined with lifestyle choices, that influences longevity.

The worst outcomes from animal protein consumption afflicted study participants who were obese, medically underweight, serious drinkers, inactive and/or smoked.

These folks went for burgers, salami, and ribs, and were generally unhealthy.

Taking in saturated fat and pro-inflammatory chemicals from red and processed meats amplified their health woes.

But active, normal-weight folks, who ate far more poultry and fish than red and processed meats, seemed to incur no damage from consuming chicken and fish.

So don't give up salmon and sea trout (loaded with anti-inflammatory, heart-lovin' omega-3s), and stick with skinless poultry.

Combined with seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily, you'll get the protein, fiber, and nutrients you need to thrive.