Is Eating Less Meat Associated with Reduced Cancer Risk?

Researchers found that those who consume more meat are more likely to acquire cancer than those who don’t. According to new research, vegetarians have a lower chance of acquiring cancer than meat eaters.

The study’s authors evaluated data on cancer cases in general and data on three of the most frequent cancers: prostate cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.

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What is Cancer, and what are its risk factors?

In medicine, cancer refers to a broad category of disorders that may manifest themselves in any organ system. The fast growth of aberrant cells outside of their usual borders, which may later infiltrate adjacent body regions and expand to other organs, is a hallmark of cancer. The most common cause of cancer mortality is metastasis.

Cancers can be linked to various lifestyle related risk factors, including a sedentary lifestyle, drinking, smoking, obesity and pollution in the air.

In low- and middle-income nations, persistent infections are linked to an increased risk of cancer. Carcinogenic infections, including Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis C virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human papillomavirus (HPV), accounted for around 13 percent of cancer diagnoses worldwide in 2018.

Liver cancer and cervical cancer are linked to hepatitis B and C viruses and certain kinds of HPV. Cervical cancer is six-fold more likely to occur in HIV-infected women and other malignancies, such as Kaposi sarcoma.

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The ideal diet to reduce cancer risk

According to new research, people who eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and legumes may lessen their chance of developing a range of malignancies.

• Consume plant-based foods:
  Breast cancer risk is reduced by eating a plant-based diet.  Eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits will help you maintain a healthy weight, which is essential for preventing the recurrence of several types of cancers, including breast  and colorectal cancer.

• Eat whole grain:
  You may lower your risk of breast cancer by eating unprocessed wheat, oats, and other grains. Breast cancer recurrence is reduced by phytochemicals found in this unprocessed meal.

• Prefer organic foods:
  Natural and pesticide-free organic food is good. According to recent research, organic foods have been linked to a decreased risk of cancer. Eating vegetables and fruits, as well as washing them well, has been suggested by experts.
  

• Vitamin D consumption:
  Many studies have revealed that women who get too little of this vitamin have an increased risk of breast cancer.
  
  Vit D déficiency is also associated with some other cancers like colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.  . Oysters, sardines, herring, salmon, and mackerel, are all excellent sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D may be obtained via sunlight and orange juice. Since a vegetarian diet has few sources of Vit D, Your physician may prescribe supplemental Vitamin D.

How does eating less meat affect cancer risk?

• Red meat :

A group of cancer researchers from the International Association of Cancer Research found insufficient data to reinforce the theory that a diet high in red meat is a risk factor for developing colon cancer.

Since scientists couldn’t figure out precisely how much of an effect it had on cancer risk – or what amount was required to cause an increase – they deemed it to be a potential carcinogen. However, when more than 100g a day was ingested, there seemed to be an elevated risk of cancer.

• Processed meat :

According to research, cancer risk may be linked to excessive intake of processed meats. According to the International Agency for Cancer Research, bowel cancer has been linked to a high intake of processed meats. Having  two slices of bacon, or 50 grams, of processed meat increases your risk of colon cancer by 18 percent.

Food habits to reduce Risk of Cancer

• Prevent intake of processed foods :
  A higher risk of cancer is associated with processed meats, including bacon, hotdogs, pepperoni, and salami. Daily consumption of around 2 ounces (50 grams) increases the risk of colon cancer by 20%.

  The rise may be attributed to nitrate preservatives or other additives in the meat-processing industry. A diet high in red meat is linked to increased cancer risk. Processed meats should be consumed in moderation, according to experts.

• Sugar Consumption :
  There is a lot of non-scientific rhetoric about sugar increases the rate of cancer growth; however, the reality is more convoluted than some people assume.

  It’s not true that a teaspoon of sugar can hasten the growth of cancer cells, but you should keep an eye on how much sugar you consume. Excess sugar consumption can lead to obesity and other health issues, which may lead to cancer. .

• Alcohol :
  While not strictly a food, alcohol is a proven carcinogen that can significantly raise cancer risk. If you’re concerned about the danger of cancer from drinking, it’s best to limit yourself to two drinks per day for men and one for women.
  
  Depending on the spirit, a drink may be anything from a 12-ounce beer to a 5-ounce wine glass to 1.5 ounces of alcohol.

This advice should be taken with a grain of salt; studies have shown that merely a couple of drinks each week may increase the risk of breast cancer in women. Alcohol seems to cause cancer when consumed in excessive quantities.

• Salt :
  Table salt, cooking salt, and seasoning salt are all free of cancer-causing agents. Foods that include it as a preservative, on the other hand, have been linked to stomach cancer when taken in large quantities.

If you eat many pickled and salt-preserved foods, you may be putting your stomach’s cells at risk. Foods made in this manner often include sodium nitrates, which are thought to be carcinogenic. 

Conclusion

People who practice good health and wellness behaviours may significantly lower their chances of developing cancer by more than half if they do not already have it. That is a startling number.

Eating the appropriate foods and doing enough exercise will not ensure that individuals will stay cancer-free for the rest of their lives, but it will help prevent cancer development.