If your diet is high in processed meat, you may want to reconsider. Although studies sometimes have different estimates of how bad processed meat is for you, there is a definite link between processed meat and some forms of cancer.
A growing problem
The link between meat consumption and our health it’s complexBut processed meat, in particular, has been linked to a host of health problems.
Processed meat refers to any meat that has been transformed through processes such as salting, curing, smoking or any other form of processing, either to improve its flavor or for its preservation. Most processed meat is Red meat (either pork or beef), but can be made with other types of meat or meat by-products, including blood.
In North AmericaAbout 70% of people consume red or processed meat on any given day; Red meat consumption is slowly declining, but processed meat consumption is on the rise. In developing countries, consumption of processed meat is generally lower, but also going up. Europe is an exception, with consumption of processed meat being On the decline.
It is difficult to find clear figures, because the definition of processed meat is very broad. Overall, though, the world seems to have quite an appetite for processed meat, and it’s a problem.
what science says
The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as Group 1 carcinogen, a category that includes things like alcohol, tobacco, ionizing radiation, as well as various pathogens. This classification is mainly based on a report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)a group of international experts who analyze large volumes of evidence on cancer research.
In this particular case, the IARC report is based on over 800 studies – it’s as close to scientific consensus as you can get on this topic.
Some individual or small-scale studies may yield different results (either due to smaller sample size, other confounding factors, or less meticulous methodology), but when you look at the big picture, in everything pertinent studies on the matter, processed meat is definitely carcinogenic.
“Based on our own findings and review of other quality literature, red/processed meat is at high risk for carcinogenesis, especially in the intestine,” explains Vinod Gopalan, Senior Lecturer in Histopathology at Griffith University. gopalan joined other Metafact expertsa platform that attempts to assess the scientific consensus on different topics .
“Our own studies have indicated that controlled dose-dependent exposure to some of the chemical molecules from red/processed meat consumption increases the proliferation of normal intestinal cells and the activation of many cancer-causing genes. This is in line with previous experimental studies. “
Other experts cited expressed similar views. While a hot dog won’t kill you, the link between processed meat and some types of cancer is undeniable.
How big is the risk?
According to the IARC report, those who ate the most processed meat had about a 17% increased risk of developing bowel cancer (compared to those who ate the least). It’s not just bowel cancer, either. a study of about 500,000 people posted in 2019 found that the risk of colorectal cancer increases by 19% for each daily serving of 25 grams. In other words, one slice of ham a day increases the relative risk of colorectal cancer by 19%.
It is important to note that this is a relative risk. A person has an average lifetime risk of around 5% (although this varies greatly depending on a number of factors), so we’re talking about a 19% increase in this 5%, which is an overall increase in one %. .
Another way of looking at it, This studio carried out in the UK, is that 1.5% of cancers are caused directly by processed meat. At the population level, this is a significant number, but if it’s enough to change personal choices… that’s a different issue.
Tim Crowe, a nutrition expert quoted by Metafact, comments:
“Even the highest level committee members of the IARC did not say that if you eat a sausage you are a candidate for cancer. What they warned was that if processed meats were a daily feature of your diet, your risk of bowel cancer would increase.”
“There are multiple factors that need to be considered here. For example, hereditary predisposition, salting, other chemical additions during meat processing, fat/oil, alcohol, amount of meat consumed, and use of vegetables during meat consumption,” adds Gopalan.
Latest Research also recommend reduce your consumption of processed meat, especially if you are a regular consumer. According to a meta-analysis (a study of studies), diets low in processed meat are associated with:
- 13% lower risk of premature death;
- 14% reduction in cardiovascular mortality;
- 14% reduction in nonfatal strokes;
- 24% reduction in type 2 diabetes;
- 10% reduction in the overall incidence of cancer;
- 11% reduction in cancer mortality.
All of these findings are statistically significant and unlikely to be due to chance.
However, data is richer in richer countries and sparser in less developed countries, making it difficult to draw broad conclusions. However, according to some peer-reviewed estimates, about 4.4% of all global deaths worldwide are directly associated with red or processed meat. This link is strong enough that some researchers are debating taxing the processes. meat as a carcinogen due to its negative impact, just as tobacco is taxed. This type of call is still controversial, but the connection between processed meat and some types of cancer is undeniable. There is still a very important debate about how bad is, and if it is optimal for reduce or remove processed meat, but consensus suggests the link exists.
The bottom line
Regular consumption of processed meat will likely increase your risk of cancer. Of course, a slice of ham or bacon won’t kill you (neither will a cigarette), but there’s mounting evidence to suggest that the more processed meat you eat, the higher your risk.
Eating less processed meat can make a difference, especially when combined with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.
