The Best Diet Change You Can Make To Reduce Your Risk of Cancer
This article originally appeared on Wellseek. I’m honored to be a member of this collective of health and wellness professionals whose mission it is to inspire individuals to live their healthiest, most nourished life.
If 2018 is the year you’ve decided to clean up your diet and eat less meat and more plants – good for you! You’re in for lots of benefits, including a healthier weight, a more active lifestyle, an improved mood, and a reduced risk of cancer. The good news is – not all meat is harmful, and even a bit of proscuitto or bacon can have its place in a healthy diet. Here’s what you need to know about meat and cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and no doubt most of us would like to do whatever we can to help prevent it. Although there is still so much unknown about what triggers the mutations that cause cells to become cancerous, it’s thought that diet might be a factor in as many as 35% of cancers. Researchers have many suspicions about the role that food additives and food processing have in turning on cancer cells, but most data on diet and cancer risk is collected through epidemiological, or population studies, which can only show an association between certain factors, rather than a direct cause and effect. However, there is enough evidence from two important associations, that anyone who wants to reduce their risk of cancer should take note:
The most important change you can make in your diet to reduce your risk of cancer is to eat more colorful fruits and vegetables and less red and processed meat.
Scientists have known about the benefits of fruits and vegetables for a long time. Their bright colors come from antioxidant compounds that protect cells from damage, and eating more of them is always on the top of the list when it comes to reducing cancer risk. The relationship between meat and cancer has been less clear, because there are both risks as well as nutritional benefits. As a consumer, you’re probably caught between messages about the benefits of eating more protein as you age, and limiting meat because it’s linked to colon cancer.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization (WHO) recently released guidelines on meat. While meat can still have a place in a healthy diet, you may want to rethink how often you eat some popular breakfast and deli choices. Here’s what they determined after reviewing more than 800 studies on meat and cancer:
- Processed meats (like bacon, sausages, jerky, hot dogs and cold cuts like ham or corned beef) pose the biggest risk. IARC has classified them as “carcinogenic to humans, based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.” IARC also considers processed meats a group 1 carcinogen, along with cigarette smoke and asbestos, but it’s important to note that group 1 refers only to the strength of the research evidence, NOT the level of risk.
- The evidence confirms eating processed meat causes mainly colon cancer, but there is some evidence that it may be linked to stomach cancer as well.
- As with anything related to diet and health, it’s the dose that makes the poison. In the case of processed meat, the research reviewed shows that processed meat is associated with small increases in the risk of cancer, but that risk also grows with the amount of meat consumed. Every 50-gram portion (about 4 strips of bacon, or 1 hot dog) of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colon cancer by about 18%.
- The evidence about red meat (which includes beef, veal, pork, lamb and goat), and cancer is not as clear. There seems to be a positive association, but there’s not enough strong evidence to support a definite effect, so red meat is listed as “probably carcinogenic”. The strongest risk appears to be for colon cancer, but there is also some research that points to a link to prostate and pancreatic cancer as well. Again, the amount you eat is important, and some studies suggest that the risk of colon cancer might increase 17% for every 100-gram portion of red meat eaten daily.
- The IARC findings only apply to red and processed meats. No link to cancer has been seen from eating poultry or fish.
The bottom line for meat eaters
The advice to eat everything in moderation holds especially true in the case of meat. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recommends avoiding processed meats all together, and limiting red meat to less than 18 ounces of cooked meat each week.
If you feel that you’re over or even near this recommendation, make it a goal to mix up the protein on your plate with some chicken, fish, or eggs a few times each week, and make sure you balance your plate with more cancer-protective colorful vegetables. A good half plate at each meal will do the job. Feeling especially motivated to cut back on meat? Join the Meatless Monday movement and commit to at least one day each week without any meat. It’s great for your health, and easier than you might think – check out some of the recipes and tips on their website.
How do you feel about these guidelines? Have you been trying to eat less red and processed meat?
Eat well!
So important to dig into the research on this topic Anne. I was recently at a conference where I heard an epidemiologist speak about diet and cancer and as we dietitians know, news headlines are not always the whole story. As you said, the dose makes the poison, and I firmly believe in moderation of all foods, red and processed meats included.
Thanks for visiting Jessica! I totally agree that it’s all about moderation and balance. Too much of anything is never a good thing, but I think a little bit of good-quality red meat once in a while is totally OK.
Thanks for sharing this Anne-lots of great info! I tend not to worry about red meat consumption, because I eat it only occasionally, but I do have clients asking about it, so good to have the research. Since my daughter has been eating vegetarian for the past month, we’ve been eating A LOT of plant based meals 🙂
So glad it was helpful! I rarely eat red or processed meat and I always feel guilty when I do – so I was actually happy to see that I can still have a burger occasionally without it increasing my risk a whole lot.
Awesome post! So many people are confused amout the real deal with red and processed meats. Thanks for clarifying!
Thanks for reading Lauren! I agree there’s lots of confusion, but I always come back to my “everything in moderation” motto!
Such simple advice! I wish more people would follow this approach.
Thanks so much for visiting Annemarie! I agree – moderation is the best approach. For those of us who are worried about red meat, I was happy to learn that it’s OK in moderation.