Cancer and Meats

Cancer and Meats
A lot of research as well as heresy have gone into deciding whether a meat based diet encourages carcinogenic substances in the human system…but the debate still rages.Let us concede right in the beginning that some studies have shown some kind of relationship between a meat diet and frequency of occurrence of cancer in human body. However, there are many ifs and buts still to be unraveled. Of course, the definition of meats may also be a deciding factor for coming to any conclusion, because in English language, the word meat is so expansive!!

The story started in 1970, when Dr. Ernst Wynder, a scientist, claimed a direct connection between animal fat intake and the occurrence of cancer. But some time later it was proved that these were really vegetable fats he was talking about and hence the entire thing collapsed.

Most scientists agree that in linking the occurrence of cancer to meat consumption, a large number of factors should ideally be taken into account. The kind of meat we are talking about, the processing of that meat, the chemicals or preservatives added to it, and finally, the storage and preserving system…all go up to define the nature of the edible meat produced. In fact despite all these specifications being laid down, there still a number of other factors that may influence the occurrence of aberrant cell behavior (which is what cancer actually is).

In fact, a study of the Seventh Day Adventists that is often referred to in a bid to prove that a vegetarian diet is healthier than non-vegetarian diet is itself an example of these X factors. While most members of this Christian denomination are vegetarians, it is also equally true that they also do not smoke, drink tea, coffee or alcohol …and all or any of these can be the reason for the body playing host to carcinogenic cells. So we cannot be sure that it is no meat or actually no other things that help protect them from cancer. Besides, the do have cancer in some instances, maybe less colon cancer but definitely show instances of other cancers like cervical or prostrate or even skin. Another example is Mormons, who believe in moderation for everything in life, but also do not smoke or drink. But for every Mormon example, there are instances of Puertio Ricans who traditionally eat a lot of fatty meats, but remarkably suffer from a very low rate of colon and breast cancers.

On the contrary, societies that traditionally have a high fat meat diet, also do not show instances of early death or faster body degeneration. In fact, the aborigines of Australia have high life spans, so do the Inuit’s and the Russians of the Caucasian Mountains. In fact the Hunzas, a very robust people, eat large portions of goat milk and other raw milk products, which seem to have much higher content of animal fats than our good old cow milk. On the other hand, the strictly vegetarian Brahmins of South India seem to have the shortest life span among traditional societies, largely because of a distinct lack of animal fats and proteins in their diet. Something here doesn’t quite tie up.

The American Cancer Society, however, has other ideas. According to their statistics, more than half of people diagnosed with stomach cancer, die because their diagnosis is too late. Studies conducted by researchers at Tufts University in Boston looked at nearly 250 people, as compare with about 450 healthy people, have brought up a very interesting fact. The questionnaires identified two main dietary patterns – the healthy diet (with higher amounts of fruits, vegetables and grain products and lower amounts of red meat, processed meats and gravy), and the high-meat diet consisting of high in red meats and low in fruits, vegetables and cereal. A third diet strain was excessive salts, snacks, desserts and milk or white bread diets. Statistics showed that people with a high meat diet were 3.5 times more likely to have cancer of the esophagus, an almost 3 times more likely to have stomach cancer, as compared to the healthy diet people. People with high milk diet and white bread diet also did not fare too well, they had almost doubled their chances of contracting cancer by moving away from a healthy diet. Salty snacks diet also tripled the risk as did white bread. Of course, the study does not identify in what form red meat is harmful.

The researchers then identified foods that help prevent cancer - Dairy products, fish, all vegetables, citrus fruit and juices, and dark bread, poultry, dark-yellow vegetables, cereals, and tomatoes all significantly reduced the risk by more than half.

There are a large number of such studies doing the rounds, some come up with percentages, and others give only indicative information. Among them, credibility comes with the findings of the National Cancer Institute that claims 35% to 60% of cancer is caused by dietary factors.

Researches abound and so do claims. But the one fact that we have to know is that cancer is basically a lifestyle related disease. The rest of the conclusions are basically isolated reasons. For instance, at least one study has shown a relationship between the natural sugars in dairy products and ovarian cancer in women. Breast cancer rates are lower in plant based diets while colon based cancer is closely related to animal based diets. But then again, it could be due to the preservatives added to these or even pollution that could make them poisonous. So along with other things, cleaner air, cutting back on intoxicating chemicals (caffeine for one), alcohol, and toxicity in the environment – could all be contributing factors in reducing the risk of cancer. That may be why just being a vegetarian may not guarantee a cancer free life or even longevity.