The consumption of red meat in the United States and other developed countries has increased steadily over the last century.
The researchers show that consumption of red meat, including beef, pork, lamb and mutton, may be associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal, lung, pancreas and endometrial cancer.
treatmentAlthough red meat is not linked to mesothelioma, people undergoing for the disease may have to stop eating red meat. Some patients develop problems with swallowing or chewing certain foods like red meat. Dietitians recommend that mesothelioma patients follow a diet rich in protein legumes, cheese, eggs, chicken and fish.
Processed meats (ham, bacon, salami, sausages and other meat products) preserved by smoking, curing or treating with preservatives are also getting a bad reputation with evidence showing that they can be carcinogenic.
Nonhuman sugar Found in mammals may be the culprit
researchers from the University of California in 2014 published a study that investigated why people who eat lots of red meat have a higher risk of developing certain cancers than those who eat less of those meats.
They found that the acid N-glycolylneuraminic (Neu5Gc), a non-human sugar found in beef, lamb and pork products, promoted inflammation and cancer progression in mice.
"scientists found that Neu5Gc diet to mice designed to be deficient in sugar (like humans) spontaneous cancers greatly promoted," said the researchers. "The study did not address exposure to carcinogens or artificially induce cancers, others involving Neu5Gc as a vital link between red meat consumption and cancer. "
the researchers showed that human cancer tissue contains high levels of Neu5Gc.
studies have linked red meat with other diseases
in recent years, researchers have linked red meat consumption to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and type 2 diabetes
Alzheimer's disease
iron, a key nutrient in meat red, can be linked to Alzheimer's disease.
a 2013 UCLA study on the effects of iron and Alzheimer discovered that iron accumulation in the brain, is a possible cause of the disease. Researchers tested 31 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 68 healthy subjects.
The researchers compared the hippocampus, known to be damaged early in the development of the disease, and the thalamus, an area not usually affected until the late stages.
"MRI technology we used in this study allowed us to determine that increasing the iron occurs along with tissue damage. We found that the amount of iron is increased in the hippocampus and is associated with tissue damage in Alzheimer's patients, but not in older people healthy - or in the thalamus, "said Dr. George Bartzokis, professor of psychiatry who taught at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and lead author of the study. "So the results suggest that iron accumulation can indeed contribute to the cause of the Alzheimer's disease. "
cardiovascular disease
researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in 2013 published a study on the relationship between red meat and heart disease, especially with carnitine, a substance found in abundance in red meat and the popular energy drinks
They found that when carnitine is processed in the stomach, it turns into a compound linked to clogged arteries. - A main cause of heart attacks.
type 2 diabetes
French researchers in 2013 studied the effects of red meat and diabetes.
They followed the diet of more than 66,000 women in Europe over 14 years. The study found that nearly 1 400 of these women were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes Those with a high-acid foods diet were 56 percent more likely to develop diabetes than those with diets less acidic.
Drs. Fagherazzi Guy and Françoise Clavel-Chapelon, the Epidemiology Research Center and Population Health at INSERM in Paris, wrote that a "diet rich in animal protein intake may promote acid net, while most fruits and vegetables are alkaline precursors that neutralize the acidity.
Contrary to common belief, most fruits - as peaches, apples, pears, bananas and even lemons and oranges - in fact reduce the acid load food once the body has treated "
Sausages are also linked to cancer
Evidence shows a link between processed meat and the development of several diseases, including lung, stomach, prostate, colon and bowel cancers.
researchers from the Institute of cancer epidemiology Division prevention and preventive social medicine and analyzed nearly 500,000 men and women without cancer prevalence for several years. in June 09, a total of 26,344 had died. a high consumption of processed meats has been linked to mortality.
"We estimated that 3.3 percent of deaths could be prevented if all the participants had processed meat consumption of less than 20 g / day. Significant associations with processed meat consumption were observed for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and "other causes of death," the 2013 study showed. "Poultry consumption was not associated with mortality all causes. "
the Cancer Council Australia recommends that we should eat small amounts of any processed meat or avoid eating altogether.
Must Stop eating red meat?
No. According to experts, the consumption of red meat provides the body with iron, zinc and dietary vitamin B12 and can actually be good for our health, as long as the meat is lean and served in small quantities.
The Cancer Council recommends that 65 -100g cooked lean red meat can be consumed three to four times a week
a portion of lean meat can be one of following :.
- 65g cooked meat
- 1/2 cup lean ground beef
- 2 small pork chops
- 2 slices of roast beef
are white Meats better for our health?
white meats, such as fish, seafood and poultry, generally contains less cholesterol and saturated fat than red meat; However, they can also pose a health risk if consumed in excess.
The American Heart Association recommends we limit lean white meat less than six ounces total per day and recommends fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, trout and herring) must be used at least twice a week.
Go meatless does not mean that the food we eat should be dull and unappetizing or that we should give up our favorite foods.
beans and legumes such as black beans, beans and chickpeas can be used in place of meat in a number of dishes such as soups, stews, meat patties and lasagna. In fact, these types of foods are recommended for people with mesothelioma.
vegetables, such as potatoes, pumpkin, cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, carrots and zucchini, can be used to create soups and hearty curries.
There are endless opportunities to create safe, healthy and delicious meal without meat.
