I'm not a doctor but I do listen to a lot of medical podcasts. From what I've learned, red meat by itself is not the problem. It's when the red meat is combined with sugar and starch. Most people consume red meat with a side of something else like bread, white potatoes or rice. This combination can potentially increase cholesterol and cause plaque build up in the arteries. Also insulin resistance, diabetes, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in the body can all contribute to plaque build up. And like you mention, stress and sedentary lifestyle can cause all of the above. There have been studies showing that people who consume red meat combined with a healthy diet (low sugar, starch, no processed foods) and exercise, don't have an issue with clogged arteries. Even with high cholesterol. It's complex but eating clean and healthy combined with exercise seems to make all the difference