But the researchers stressed there was no need for young girls to cut meat out of their diet as those with the highest meat consumption were eating a lot.

BBC: High meat diet 'linked to early periods'

The phthalates could be a biomarker of dietary fat consumption, which means they could have been eating a higher than typical amount of dietary fat or significantly more food.

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The British Heart Foundation says Christmas lunch can provide more calories than are needed in an entire day and has advice on how to reduce fat and calorie consumption, such as removing skin from turkey and eating slowly.

BBC: Top ten Christmas health risks

While the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables are not totally clear, most experts agree that increased consumption is likely to help in a variety of areas.

BBC: Apples

Much of this behavior, which he calls conditioned hyper-eating, is due to brain pathways that are established and reinforced by the regular consumption of highly appealing high-fat, high-sugar, salty foods.

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Here in the US, consumption is focused on breakfast, so brands that start to push into other day parts and eating occasions will reap the benefits of an insatiable consumer base.

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"The whole point of the production method is to create this diseased liver, which is unlike any other form of animal agriculture where you're not just growing animals to be eating, but you're also torturing the animal to grossly enlarge its organs for consumption, " Bryan Pease, an attorney and chairman of the board of the Animal Protection and Rescue League, said.

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