Colon cancer is one of the main causes of death from cancer in western countries. Obviously, diet strongly influences the risk of colon cancer, and changes in eating habits could reduce up to a 70% of this cancer burden.
Epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of processed meat (such as sausages such as loin, Serrano ham, etc.) is associated with the risk of suffering from this terrible cancer.
Processed meat is made primarily from pork or beef, which is preserved by methods other than freezing and is subjected to treatment to increase preservation and change the taste.
There is a wide variety of processed meat products and they can be classified by the parameters involved in the preparation of these foods, which are curing (adding salt and other additives), drying, smoking, cooking and packaging.
Why are sausages bad?
The truth is that it can be explained by several mechanisms, but the most important and that really worries public health are the following:
Heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
These are compounds that are formed during the cooking of meat. Studies suggest that cooking methods and the degree of doneness of meat are related to the risk of colon cancer, since a higher temperature leads to a higher risk.
Nitrogen compounds
These compounds that are formed during the preparation of sausages can react with DNAand according to studies carried out in humans, a high concentration of these compounds could trigger a greater probability of suffering from colon cancer in the long term.
How much is safe to consume?
The truth is that like tobacco, the less this type of product is ingested, the better for our health. Some authorities speak of less than 150 g per week.
Despite this, what they suggest is that it not be consumed and that, if it is, that it be in very specific momentssince the fact of consuming this type of product is not only harmful due to the aforementioned part, but we are displacing foods that are beneficial, such as fruits and vegetables.
Are vegetable sausages healthier?
When we compare two foods, it is clear that there is one that is going to have a more or less healthy impact on health than another, but that a particular food has a lesser negative impact, doesn’t mean it’s beneficial.
This is the case of vegetable sausages, which, although healthier than meat, does not mean that they can have benefits on health such as fruits and vegetables.
Normally this type of vegetable sausages are made with hydrogenated and oxidized vegetable oils, which are related to cardiovascular diseases, and although they do not have as much correlation with colon cancer as sausages of animal origin, there is also risk.
For this reason, if you have to consume some type of sausage, the vegetable is better, although from Vitónica we suggest that you do not consume this type of processed food and that you always opt for natural plant foods such as fruits, legumes, whole grains, etc.
Meat consumption and climate crisis
Lately there is a lot of talk about the problems of climate change and the crisis in which we are submerged; and more now with the number of fires that, unfortunately, are being generated.
While it is true that raw meat is high in nutrients that are necessary for health, meat itself it is not necessary for iron health.
Reducing foods of animal origin would help:
- Reduce the emission of greenhouse gases
- Reduce deforestation
- Reduce biodiversity loss
This is therefore another reason for which we want to transmit the message of reducing the consumption of processed foods of animal origin, since we will be contributing to increase, although this will depend on each person, to consume foods of plant origin.
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