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Get your free copy01 March 2011, 12:27 PM
- People should reduce their intake of red and processed meat to reduce the risk of getting cancer, says a new Government report
The recommendations advise eating no more than 70g a day – the equivalent of three slices of ham, two sausages or one lamb chop. The publication marks the first time the Government has officially advised the public to cut back on red meat to help reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
The report, made by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), summarises that thousands of deaths could be prevented if the new guidelines are kept to. Bowel Cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with around 36,000 people being diagnosed every year.
“Red meat can be part of a healthy balanced diet. It is a good source of protein and vitamins and minerals, such as iron, selenium, zinc and B vitamins,” says Professor Sally Davies, interim chief medical officer for England.
“But people who eat a lot of red and processed meat should consider cutting down. The occasional steak or extra few slices of lamb is fine but regularly eating a lot could increase your risk of cancer.”
Charity Beating Bowel Cancer also welcomed the findings. “The evidence suggests that a diet high in red and processed meat may increase your risk of developing bowel cancer, but the good news is that red meat can still be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy balanced diet,” says Mark Flannagan, chief executive of Beating Bowel Cancer.
“This, combined with an active lifestyle and awareness of the symptoms and risk factors, could help protect you from the UK’s second biggest cancer killer.”
