Red Meat Causes Cancer? Study EXPLAINED
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Do red meats cause cancer? Letâs explore the truth.
Having 31.2 million heads of beef cow, Texas is the largest producer of beef in the United States, more than Missouri and Oklahoma (2nd and 3rd place respectively) combined. So it's not a big surprise when something as controversial as red meat causing cancer is causing such an uproar in Texas.
You may have seen headlines or read articles suggesting a link between eating meat and cancer, but how trustworthy are these claims? Throughout this video we will break down the thinking behind both sides of this debate, and try to elucidate why each side thinks the way that they do about this topic.
The WHO's Statement on How Red Meat Can Cause Cancer
The World Health Organization has declared red meat as a âprobableâ cause of cancer. Specifically, bowel cancer, but they also point to a link between red meat and an increased risk of stomach cancer as well. However, this declaration isnât quite as damning as it first sounds. This link doesnât apply to any red meat consumption but specifically to the over-consumption of processed meats and red meats. Moderate consumption of natural red meat has less of a link to cancer, though some do still suggest a clear link.
Benefits of Red Meat Explained
The World Health Organization recognizes the health benefits of eating red meat and does not recommend cutting it out of your diet entirely, but instead limiting the intake. Red meat does provide a healthy source of iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and protein. There was no linkage whatsoever found between poultry and cancer, and the consumption of fish is believed to possibly lower your risk for certain types of cancer.
Red Meat Components Thought to Contribute to Cancer
There are three different components of red meat that are thought to have a hand in causing cancer. The first is heme. This is naturally occurring in meat and is what gives it its red pigmentation and contributes to the taste. The second are nitrates. These are added to meat during industrial refinement and processing to make the meat last longer. The third component is a combination of heterocyclic and polycyclic amines. These are chemicals that are naturally generated in red meat when that meat is cooked at high temperatures through methods like grilling and barbecuing.
Official USDA Recommendation on Meats
Do red meats cause cancer? If youâre still confused, the official recommendation by the U.S. Department of Health is to cut down your processed or red meat intake to 70 grams or less per day. The U.K. Cancer Research Organization states their belief in the link between red meat and cancer is infallible. They state that this link is as quantifiable as the links between cancer and tobacco or UV rays. But does everybody agree on these statements?
Weâve seen a lot of material from one side of the argument, now letâs listen to the other side. Meatmythcrushers.com took a closer look at the research that the World Health Organization points to for their findings. There were 800 studies conducted into whether or not there is a tangible link between red meat and cancer. Only 18 studies on processed meat and 14 studies on red meat where used to support their hypothesis. The other 768 studies were disregarded in their decision making.
Red Meat Causing Cancer: Links Not Statistically Significant
Cancer epidemiologist Dominik Alexander reviewed the claims that meat causes cancer and took issue with the classification. He says âMost summary associations between red meat and processed meat and cancer are weak in magnitude and not statistically significantâ. Chris Kresser has critically reviewed the evidence pointing to a link between meat and cancer several times and finds the research inconclusive and weak. These studies are not conducted in a way that can properly isolate the effect had by meat consumption from all of the other factors in an individualâs life. Such a study would be impossible in practice as it would require decades of intensive testing with strict life restrictions and near impossible dietary restrictions.
This reported link between meat eating and cancer is one that arises every once in a while and eventually loses momentum. The same debate has been embarked on by both sides of the argument many times over the years. The same research is pointed to as fact and debunked by the same counter-arguments time and time again. You can decide for yourself where you stand on this issue. Hopefully, the information provided here has helped you to make that decision.
If you learned something or found something useful, then do us a favor and like the video on youtube. We would love to hear your opinions, so head on down to the comment section and join the conversation.
Of course, if there's any real takeaway from this recurring issue, it's that the quality of meat is one of the main driving points behind many of the arguments about whether or not red meat can cause cancer. And of course, for the best quality meats, nothing can be better than locally-raised beef from your local farms and ranches.
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What is processed meat and why is it bad for you? Know more about it here!
