Researchers from writing the journal BMC Medicine, said salt and chemicals in the processed meat may damage health. The British Heart Foundation suggested opting for leaner cuts of meat. The study followed people from 10 European countries for nearly 13 years on average.
The resarch showed that people who ate a lot of processed meat were also more likely to smoke, be obese and have other behaviours known to damage health. In total, nearly 10,000 people died from cancer and 5,500 from heart problems.
Prof Sabine Rohrmann from the University of Zurich told BBC that the high meat consumption, especially processed meat is associated with a less healthy lifestyle.
She said that everyone in the study consumed no more than 20g of processed meat a day then 3% of the premature deaths could have been prevented.
Dr Rachel Thompson from the World Cancer Research Fund said that the research adds to the body of scientific evidence highlighting the health risks of eating processed meat. The organisation said there would be 4,000 fewer cases of bowel cancer if people had less than 10g a day.
Tracy Parker from British Heart Foundation, said the research suggested processed meat might be linked to an increased risk of early death, but those who ate more of it in the study also made ‘other unhealthy lifestyle choices’.
What is red meat?
Red meat includes beef, lamb and pork including minced beef, pork chops and roast lamb. It does not include chicken or turkey meat.
What is processed meat?
Processed meat refers to meat that has been preserved by smoking, curing, salting or adding preservatives. Examples include ham, bacon, pastrami and salami, as well as hot dogs and some sausages. Hamburgers and minced meats only count as processed meat if they have been preserved with salt or chemical additives.
Is meat good for you?
Meat is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and B vitamins. It is one of the main sources of vitamin B12, also found in milk.
Advice from the Department of Health is to consume healthier meat or meat products, such as lean cuts of meat and lean mince and cut down on processed meat.
Source :- BBC
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