The World Health Organisation has placed processed meat in the same carcinogenic risk group as asbestos, tobacco and arsenics. Bacon, sausage, mortadella, salami, frankfurts, ham, salted meats and other processed meats are strongly associated with the development of stomach, colon, rectum, larynx, breast, prostate and bladder cancer.
‘Processed’ refers to meat which had been cured, smoked or treated to enhance flavour or preservation. Experts say as little as 50 grams of processed meat each day increased the risk of these cancers by 18% - that’s only two slices of bacon or the ham in your sandwich.
Each year 34,000 cancer deaths worldwide are linked to heavy processed meat consumption.
In 2010, colorectal cancers were the second most common type of cancers diagnosed (after prostate cancer in men, and breast cancer in women), many of which could have been prevented by consuming less processed meat.
Ham and bacon are the most common processed meats consumed in Australia.
A National Nutrition Survey discovered that among adults who ate processed meat, men had 40 grams on the day of the survey and women 26 grams. In regards to sausages and frankfurts, this rose to 110 grams and 76 grams respectively.
Additionally high-temperature methods of cooking red meat such as grilling or pan frying, produces high amounts of chemicals also known to cause cancer. Processed meats are typically preserved with nitrite and N-nitroso compounds. These chemicals elevate the risk of pancreatic cancer. Cigarette smoke also contains these compounds.
In 2010 over 2,600 cases of colorectal cancers in Australia was attributable to the consumption of red or processed meat.
A Cancer Council investigator, Associate Professor Dallas English, said that “People who consume a lot of meat, particularly processed meat, could reduce their bowel cancer risk by eating less meat.”
So how much is okay?
Consuming 50g of processed meat daily increases our cancer risk by 18%. Therefore we should aim to have less than 50g each day, ensuring there are processed meat free days in our week.
Shocking or what? If you are interested in checking out your cancer risk, visit this website and take the quiz - https://lifestylerisk.canceraustralia.gov.au/#/
*Note all material posted above is from credible sources and was used in the production of my own university assessment. If you wish to see references, use the contact form and I will happily share them with you*
‘Processed’ refers to meat which had been cured, smoked or treated to enhance flavour or preservation. Experts say as little as 50 grams of processed meat each day increased the risk of these cancers by 18% - that’s only two slices of bacon or the ham in your sandwich.
Each year 34,000 cancer deaths worldwide are linked to heavy processed meat consumption.
In 2010, colorectal cancers were the second most common type of cancers diagnosed (after prostate cancer in men, and breast cancer in women), many of which could have been prevented by consuming less processed meat.
Ham and bacon are the most common processed meats consumed in Australia.
A National Nutrition Survey discovered that among adults who ate processed meat, men had 40 grams on the day of the survey and women 26 grams. In regards to sausages and frankfurts, this rose to 110 grams and 76 grams respectively.
Additionally high-temperature methods of cooking red meat such as grilling or pan frying, produces high amounts of chemicals also known to cause cancer. Processed meats are typically preserved with nitrite and N-nitroso compounds. These chemicals elevate the risk of pancreatic cancer. Cigarette smoke also contains these compounds.
In 2010 over 2,600 cases of colorectal cancers in Australia was attributable to the consumption of red or processed meat.
A Cancer Council investigator, Associate Professor Dallas English, said that “People who consume a lot of meat, particularly processed meat, could reduce their bowel cancer risk by eating less meat.”
So how much is okay?
Consuming 50g of processed meat daily increases our cancer risk by 18%. Therefore we should aim to have less than 50g each day, ensuring there are processed meat free days in our week.
Shocking or what? If you are interested in checking out your cancer risk, visit this website and take the quiz - https://lifestylerisk.canceraustralia.gov.au/#/
*Note all material posted above is from credible sources and was used in the production of my own university assessment. If you wish to see references, use the contact form and I will happily share them with you*