A recent US study suggests that eating large amounts of red and processed meat can increase the risk of various types of cancer – with breast cancer in particular being mentioned. Researchers at Harvard have said that replacing red meat with a combination of lentils, beans and peas, nuts, fish and poultry may reduce the risk of cancer in younger people. Past research has indicated that eating a lot of red and processed meat is likely to increase the risk of bowel cancer.
Risks Can Be Reduced by Living a Healthy Lifestyle
The research team, led by Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, analysed the diets of around 3,000 women who developed breast cancer. According to the British Medical Journal they reported that “Higher red meat intake in early adulthood may be a risk factor for breast cancer.” Dr Maryam Farvid and colleagues described the risk as “small”. Prof Tim Key from the University of Oxford, said the US study found “only a weak link” between eating red meat and breast cancer, which was “not strong enough to change the existing evidence that has found no definite link between the two”. Sally Greenbrook of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said the charity would welcome more research into the impact of red meat on breast cancer risk. The risk of breast cancer can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight, refraining from drinking alcohol, being physically active and swapping red meat with white meat, beans or fish. Jackie Harris, a clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Care, said: “This study is interesting because it looks at eating habits and supports the growing body of evidence of the importance of eating a well-balanced diet.” “However it is important to remember that it can’t prevent it completely.” She concluded. The Department of Health has advised that people who eat more than 90g (cooked weight) of red and processed meat a day cut down to 70g. At the moment it seems like the evidence from the researchers at Harvard is inconclusive and there is not enough evidence to suggest that these foods are definitely responsible for those who have been diagnosed with cancer, however it is always a good idea to err on the side of caution and if there are ways in which we can reduce our risks then it would be wise to do so. How important do you think the results of the research at Harvard is and what other ways can we reduce the risk of cancer? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.