WebMD Says "Eating Meat May Raise Colon Cancer Risk"

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WebMD released an article today entitled "Eating Meat May Raise Colon Cancer Risk" based on a study by a the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund. The report has solid evidence that eating less red meat and avoiding processed meat altogether can greatly reduce colon cancer risk. When combined with a healthy diet, cutting out meat could "prevent 45% of all colon cancer cases, or more than 64,000 cases of colon cancer each year"

The articles gives some details on meat's influence on cancer:

• People who eat 3.5 ounces of red meat every day (24.5 ounces per week) will have a 17% increased risk of colon cancer compared to someone who eats no red meat, according to the report.
• People who eat 7 ounces per day (49 ounces per week) will have a 34% increased risk.
• People who eat 3.5 ounces of processed meat a day will have a 36% increased risk of developing colon cancer compared with people who avoid all processed meat

Researchers believe that the reason is mainly because of the process. "Processed meats are made by smoking, curing, salting, and or adding preservatives such as nitrates. The body converts nitrates into nitrosamines, which are known to increase risk of cancer."