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Marie claire Health news: Sausages

Eating a sausage or three rashers of bacon a day can increase the risk of bowel cancer, a scientist has claimed.

Consuming processed meat raises the risk of cancer by one fifth with as little as 50g containing enough cancer-causing substances - known as N-nitroso compounds - to put meat eaters at heightened risk.

Professor Wiseman backed the claims stating: 'We are more sure now than ever before that eating processed meat increases your risk of bowel cancer.'

He added: 'Whether it is bacon or ham, the safest amount to eat is none at all.'

Processed meat such as pastrami, hot dogs, bacon and processed sausages, is preserved by smoking, curing, salting or adding preservatives. Hamburgers and minced meat are also a risk if they have been preserved with salt or chemical additives.

One in 20 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and 16,000 people die from it every year. It is the third most common type of cancer in Britain.

The charity World Cancer Research Fund recommended in a report last year that people eat less than 500g of cooked red meat a week and avoid processed meat altogether.

Sarah Hiom, director of health information for Cancer Research UK, supported the latest findings but stated: 'It is also important to remember that many other parts of your diet and wider lifestyle can affect the risk of bowel cancer, along with the genes.'

Monday 31 March 2008

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I don't understand the exaggerated caution of Cancer Research UK - our own diet is something we can all influence and improve relatively easily, unlike our genetic make-up or our exposure to carcinogens in the wider environment, so why not promote moving towards plant-based, and especially vegan, diets as a sensible step? The evidence linking veganism to good health and animal products to poor health is stacking up all the time, and there are abundant good vegan cookbooks now available that can help people make the transition - it just needs a little time and effort to re-educate yourself on cooking and nutrition and there's a whole world of tasty and healthy vegan food waiting for you out there - give it a try :)
Comment by Matthew on March 31 10:36

It getting to the stage what can you eat ?
Comment by Patricia Lyndsey on March 31 13:13

I did consider going 'veggie' once, but then I read that too much roughage can give you bowel cancer... Not to mention the chemicals used to grow/preserve the non-organic varieties of fruit and veg..
Is there anything that we can eat that doesn't increase our risk of cancer?
It seems to me that moving away from chemically processed foodstuffs and making use of all food groups in moderation is still the best way forward. Un-tampered-with meat is good for you in reasonable amounts. The same with fruit and veg.
But this has been known for years.
Comment by Rob on April 07 12:12