Red meat and cancer – what you need to know Firstly, one should know what is red meat and processed meat? Let us clear up some definitions. ‘Red’ meat is any meat that’s dark red colour before it is cooked – this obviously means meats like beef, pork and lamb. ‘Processed’ meat is meat that is not sold fresh, but instead has been cured, salted, smoked, or otherwise preserved in some way like bacon, sausages, hot dogs, ham, salami, patties, tinned meat and pepperoni.
Fresh chicken or turkey and fish (white meat) are distinct from the above and are not connected with increase in the risk of cancer. Many studies have proven that bowel cancer is more common among people who eat the most red and processed meat. The main culprit in red meat is certain chemicals found in the meat itself.The chemical called haem which is a component of haemoglobin is broken down in our gut resulting in N-nitroso…
