Dr. Mercola Reveals the Link between Processed Meat and Cancer

Meat is a crucial part of a balanced diet because of its protein content. But beware of processed meat. A natural health news report from The World Cancer Research Fund reveals that processed meat can cause bowel cancer.

According to the report, processed meats like ham, bacon, salami, sausages and corned beef should be avoided. The health news also warns that no amount of processed meat is safe.

The Dangerous Side of Processed Meats

Processed meats are preserved through curing, salting, smoking or adding chemical preservatives. The most dangerous additions to these meats are the coloring, preservatives, and nitrates, says Dr. Joseph Mercola. When added to meat, the nitrates are converted into nitrosamines, which are associated with an increased risk of certain cancers. This is why the USDA requires ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or erythorbic acid to be added to cure bacon, since it helps reduce nitrosamine formation.

Dr. Joe Mercola adds that processed meat or any meat that has been cooked at high temperatures can contain 20 different kinds of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that are also linked to cancer. The charred or blackened section of the meat contains the most HCAs.

Nitrosamine formation also increases when meat is heated at high temperatures. It’s been discovered that well-done or burned bacon has significantly more nitrosamines than less done bacon.

Smoking processed meat is a crucial part of curing. But it’s a well-known cause of cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may enter your food during smoking.

More Proof That Processed Meats Are Unsafe

Dr. Mercola says that this health news is just another addition to the growing evidence that processed meat leads to cancer. The WCRF released a 2007 analysis saying that eating just one sausage daily increases your risk of bowel cancer significantly. Consuming 1.8 ounces of processed meat every day – the equivalent of three pieces of bacon or one sausage — increases your cancer risk by 20 percent.

Other studies have also revealed that processed meats increase your risk of:

• Stomach cancer by 38 percent
• Colon cancer by 50 percent
• Bladder cancer by 59 percent
• Pancreatic cancer by 67 percent

Processed meats can also increase your risk of diabetes by 50 percent, increase your risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lower your lung function.

Switch to Healthier Meats

Dr. Mercola says that processed meats should be kept to a minimum in or eliminated from your diet. Here are some tips to get healthier meats.

• Pick organic free-range or grass-fed meats.
• Choose “uncured” varieties with no nitrates.
• Instead of processed varieties like sausages and hotdogs, choose whole meat cuts like chops, roasts or steaks.
• Avoid meats that have high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, preservatives, and artificial color and flavor.
• Varieties that are 100% beef or 100% chicken are your best options. This assures you that the meat is from a single species and does not have byproducts, like chicken fat or chicken skin.
• Buy processed meats from a small, local farmer who can tell you about the ingredients. He should verify that the products are raised on pasture and without pesticides and antibiotics.
• Adding homemade spice rubs, herb-enhanced marinades, or fresh fruits like blueberries to your meat prior to cooking gives health benefits and cuts down on the harmful substances formed.
• Eat your meat raw or lightly cooked. Never overcook or char it.

Meat is a natural part of any diet, but make sure you’re getting only the healthy and safe kinds to ensure optimal health.

Stay tuned for more natural health news from Dr. Mercola.

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Tags: bowel cancer, dr. mercola, health news, meat, mercola, natural health, natural health news, processed meat