If you woke up excited on Monday (26), it's time to rethink this excitement: The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organization (WHO) agency, has just reported that the consumption of processed meat is increasing. chance of developing cancer of the large intestine and rectum. For “processed meat, ” read bacon, ham, sausage, and salami!

The study still cites red meat as "probably carcinogenic based on limited evidence." The study cites carcinogenic effects of red meat in cases of colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancer.

"For individuals, the risk of developing colorectal cancer from the consumption of processed meat remains small, but the risk increases with the amount of meat consumed, " Kurt Straif, head of the monograph program, said in a statement to press. "Given the large number of people who eat processed meat, the overall impact on cancer incidence is of importance to public health, " he added.

Bacon and other processed meats are considered carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Controversy

The survey was conducted by 22 experts in ten countries. According to WHO, the survey used more than 800 studies that investigated the association of more than a dozen types of cancer. Research indicates that consuming an average of 50 grams per day of processed meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.

However, Betsy Booren of the US Meat Institute disagrees with the findings by pointing out that limited evidence was used to reach this conclusion. "They manipulate the data to get a specific result, " Booren told The Guardian.

In addition, advocates of our daily bacon say that obesity and lack of exercise are the biggest risk factors for cancer and that this should be taken into account when learning about research published on Monday. They understand, however, that this heightens the discussion about the effects of eating red and processed meat on our bodies.

Red meat also joined the discussion

Carcinogenic Groups: Bacon Next to Alcohol and Cigarette

The International Agency for Cancer Research has a table with four different groups. Each substance or product they review can be cataloged from “possibly non-carcinogenic to humans” to “carcinogenic to humans”.

Processed meat has just been included in Group 1, the highest risk. With that, bacon and salami are next to substances like tobacco, alcohol, asbestos and arsenic! Worrying, don't you think? Red meat was placed in Group 2A as “probably carcinogenic to humans”.

Did you see that WHO published a study saying that processed meat can cause cancer? Comment on the Mega Curious Forum

Processed meats such as bacon, ham and salami were classified with the same carcinogenic risk as cigarettes.

"What we do know is that avoiding red meat in the diet is not a cancer protection strategy, " said Robert Pickard, a professor of neurobiology at the University of Cardiff in England. He also warns that the biggest causes of cancer are smoking, alcohol and physical inactivity, and that all this cannot be compared to eating meat at all.

This view is shared by researcher and nutritionist Elizabeth Lund. "Overall, I feel that eating meat once a day with fruits, vegetables and fiber, as well as exercise and weight management, will allow a lower risk of colorectal cancer and a healthier diet, " says Elizabeth.

(With information from the State Agency)

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By the way, this discussion will still yield a lot of sleeve. And for you, dear reader, will this research change any eating habits? Will you stop eating bacon or sausage on her own?