MATC Matters

Another nutrition tip going beyond the basics…

Colon cancer. Stomach cancer. Pancreatic cancer. Maybe even breast cancer (if you’re premenopausal) and prostate cancer (if you’re African American).

People who eat more red meat - beef, pork, and lamb - have a higher risk of all of them. And all but premenopausal breast cancer have also been linked to processed meats like bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and lunch meats.

“That’s why the American Cancer Society recommends that people limit consumption of processed and red meat,â€? says Michael Thun, the society’s vice president of epidemiology and surveillance.

And it’s not just cancer. Other studies find a higher risk of diabetes in women who eat more meat, especially processed meats.

But the evidence is strongest for colon cancer. Among the mechanisms that might explain the link: “When meats are cooked, they produce heteroclic amines that are carcinogenic,� says Thun. “The iron in meat may also act as a pro‑oxidant.�

What’s more, the nitrites in processed meats are a precursor of nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. And fat stimulates the body to make more bile acids, which may promote colon cancer.

“You don’t have to become a vegetarian,â€? says Thun. “The idea is to put more emphasis on plant foods and not have meat at the center of the plate.â€?

Processed meats include not just bacon and hot dogs, says Thun, but sausage, lunch meats, and other smoked or cured meats. There isn’t much data on lunch meats made out of poultry, he adds. “It’s not clear if smoked turkey is a problem, for example.â€?

Remember: Go for fish, poultry, or beans instead of red meat. Check out the nitrite‑free cold cuts. Try veggie sausage or veggie burgers.

This information is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult your physician with any concerns you might have regarding this information.

Sources:
The Center for Science in the Public Interest Volume 34, Number 1, Jan/Feb 2007.

CA Cancer J Clin 2006;56: 254‑281.
Arch Intern Med. 2006;166: 2253‑2259.
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006;98(15): 1078‑87.
Int J Cancer 2006;118: 2866‑2870.
Diabetes Care 2004;27: 2108.

If you have questions, contact Cindi Rutten, Employee Health & Wellness
Coordinator at 243‑4133.