Nutrition: Why women may want to avoid red meat

The next time you cook dinner, skip the juicy steak or plump hamburger and go for fresh salmon or skinless chicken breast. A large Harvard University study found that women who eat a lot of red meat had a significantly higher risk for breast cancer. But replacing a daily serving of red meat with lean protein, like chicken, fish or nuts, appeared to lower breast cancer risk. The study, which was published in The BMJ, followed 89,000 women over a 20-year span of time. Participants were asked how much unprocessed red meat (beef, pork, lamb), processed red meat (bacon, sausage, hot dogs), chicken, fish and legumes (beans, lentils, peas and nuts) they ate each day. The study found that women who ate the most red meat (1.5 servings a day) had a 22% higher risk of breast cancer than those who had a serving a week. And each additional daily serving of red meat seemed to increase that risk another 13%. The study also found that cutting one serving per day of red meat and replacing it with poultry reduced the risk of breast cancer by 17%. Why the link? While the red meat-breast cancer connection isn’t clear, researchers do have a few guesses. One possibility is that red meat has been shown to release cancer-causing byproducts when cooked at high temperatures. Another theory is that hormones given to cattle to increase their growth may also raise a woman’s hormone levels. There’s also the fact that processed meats contain nitrates, which have been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. (Or, it could be that women who eat less red meat have other healthy habits that fight breast cancer.) The beef with red meat Breast cancer isn’t the only issue associated with consuming too much red meat. There is compelling evidence that meat-heavy diets raise a person’s risk for additional health problems like heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer. Limiting your red meat intake The American Cancer Society recommends limiting consumption of red meats, especially those that are high in fat and processed, and choosing other protein sources like fish or poultry instead. Here are some simple swaps to help you cut down on red meat. Trade hamburgers for veggie burgers. Cook up one of these delicious recipes. Or marinate a Portobello mushroom in French dressing and throw it on the grill. Studies show that it’s just as satisfying as the real thing. Give up beef for beans. Your favourite soups, stews and casseroles can still taste great. Beans are an excellent meat substitute because they are high in protein, filled with fiber and low in fat.

Lifestyle

Nutrition: Why women may want to avoid red meat