Red Meat and Cancer Link
More Reasons To Become A Vegetarian
New research funded by the National Cancer Institute shows a link to the amount of red meat consumed and cancer. The study spanned 10 years and looked at participants who ranged in age from 50-71 years. The conclusion was that about 11% to 16% of deaths were linked to excess red meat consumption.
Red meat and processed meats have long been considered unhealthy by some. Meat excessively grilled or pan fried has also been linked to cancer due to the chemicals produced when meats are cooked. Much of the problem is also often blamed on portion sizes of meats like beef, pork and ham. Instead of becoming a portion of a balanced meal they become the meal. The main problem with processed meats like cold cuts is that they are sometimes high in nitrates, which is unfortunate because the main consumers are often children who eat them in their lunches.
If you are able to lower your portion size or cut back on the amount of meat you consume the next thing you should try to do is improve the quality. If we look at some countries in Europe that consume as much meat but have lower risks of cancer and heart disease much of the credit often goes to the time spent shopping for quality.
You may not be able to become a vegetarian but everyone should be able to cut back on portion size and take a bigger interest in where their meat is coming from and how it is cooked. Unfortunately the local butcher shop has become a endangered species, replaced by large supermarkets and big box stores.
