Bowel Cancer Risk From Too Much Meat

Red Meat Cutlets

A new report out from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), a government body have reviewed national nutrition guidelines on how much meat individuals should eat as part of a well balanced and healthy diet. The recommendation from the scientists is to reduced meat consumption to 70 g per day which is equivalent to three slices of bacon or ham.

The threat of bowel cancer to people who eat too much meat has been acknowledged by nutrition specialists for a number of years though the publication of such information in the press is few and far between.  However, this recent publication by the Press Association on the dangers of meat shows a giant step forward in the acknowledgement of government authorities of the dangers of certain food stuffs that is being produced by the livestock and dairy industry.  Perhaps the cost of treating people with variety heart diseases, cancers and other metabolic type diseases is playing a part in the increased release of information on the dangers of mass produced animal products.

According to SACN there is evidence that consumption of more than 90g of meat per day increases the risk of bowel cancer due to certain substances than can be found in red meat such as haem that in some studies has been shown to damage the lining of the colon.  Haem is a complex red organic pigment that gives the meat its red colouring. A report last year from the World Health organisation (WHO) suggests that people should abstain from processed meats altogether due to the substances used to cure and store the meat which give a greater risk of bowel cancer. It is estimated that 3,800 cases of bowel cancer could be prevented ever year if people reduced their meat consumption to 70g.

Posted by Robert Spoon on Friday, February 25th, 2011. Filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry