"Processed Meats Tied To Stomach Cancer"
Another study of dietary habits has been published that is nothing less than a ham-handed slap in the face to loyal consumers of bacon, sausage, hot dogs, salami and smoked meats. According to a report by Swedish scientists of 15 studies on stomach cancer published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute "higher intake of processed meats was associated with a greater risk of stomach cancer. 'Findings were most consistent for bacon consumption,' the researchers write." Not my beloved bacon - say it isn't so!
A review of 15 studies showed the risk of developing stomach cancer rose by 15 to 38 percent if consumption of processed meats increased by 30 grams (1 ounce) per day, the Karolinska Institute said in a statement.
The researchers do not adduce that packing away the daily B.L.T. will inevitably lead to gastic cancer, but they do add to the speculation that some of us are susceptible to the effects of nitrates, perhaps from the fragility of some of our DNA combined with exposure to bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori.
It seems to me that the more we learn about the causes of cancer the more we realize that not every tasty morsel we put into our mouths is necessarily going to guarantee us a long life. Let us keep this in mind the next time we stand at the buffet, tempted by the sight of a mouth-watering platter of exotic delicacies from faraway lands.
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If the problem is nitrates, then aren't the packaged chicken and turkey products just as bad for you? Is there really nothing beyond whole grain brown rice and organic garbanza beans that I can safely put in my mouth?
You can switch to Organic meats , no nitrates allowed.
I'm not going to cut bacon or pepperoni out of my diet for what looks like a relatively low increase in risk. Of course, my total consumption of the mentioned meat products is something on the order of two ounces a week.
Also, I didn't see any mention in the Reuters article of the "baseline" consumption value. The CBS article said it varied from less than a gram to more than 56 grams per day. Based on that, I'm keeping my BLT, thankyouverymuch!
Having been widowed d/t gastric cancer, I don't touch the stuff myself. I don't miss it either.