The World Cancer Research
Fund recently completed a detailed review of 7,000 clinical studies covering
links between diet and cancer. Upon conclusion it is evident that processed
meats are dangerous for human consumption and consumers should stop buying and
eating processed meats.
What are processed meats?
Processed meats include
bacon, sausage, hot dogs, sandwich meat, packaged ham, pepperoni, salami and
nearly all meat found in prepared frozen meals. Processed meats are usually
manufactured with a carcinogenic (linked to promote and cause cancer)
ingredient known as sodium nitrate. Sodium nitrate is primarily used as a
colour fixer by meat companies to make the packaged meats look bright red and
fresh. Monosodium glutamate is also added on a regular basis to enhance the
savoury flavour.
Sodium Nitrate has been
strongly linked to the formation of cancer-causing nitrasamines in the human
body, leading to a sharp increase in the risk of cancer for those consuming
them. A 2005 Hawaii
University study found
that eating processed meats increased the risk of pancreatic cancer by 67%,
whilst another study found that it increased the risk of colorectal cancer by
50%. These are scary numbers for those consuming processed meats on a regular
basis.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
is a second dangerous chemical found in virtually all processed meat products.
MSG is a dangerous excitotoxin linked to neurological disorders such as
migraine headaches, Alzheimer’s disease, loss of appetite control, obesity and
many other serious health conditions. Manufacturers use MSG to add an addictive
savory flavor to dead-tasting processed meat products.
Food items to check
carefully:
•Beef jerky
•Bacon
•Sausage
•Pepperoni
•Hot dogs
•Sandwich
meat
•Deli slices
•Ham
•Frozen pizzas with meat
•Canned soups containing
meat
•Frozen meals with meat
•Ravioli and meat pasta
foods
…and many more meat
products
If it’s so dangerous to
consume why are they allowed to sell it?
Unfortunately now days the
food industry interests now dominate the actions of the government regulators.
The USDA for example tried to ban sodium nitrate in the late 1970′s but were
overridden by the meat industry insisting the chemical was ‘safe’. Today the
food and agriculture corporations hold tremendous influence over the food
industry and as a result consumers have little protection from dangerous
chemicals intentionally added to foods, medicines and personal care products.
To avoid the dangers of
processed meats:
•Always read ingredient
labels
•Don’t buy anything made
with sodium nitrate or MSG
•Avoid eating red meats
served by restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels or other institutions without
asking for details
•Eat more fresh produce
and only purchase fresh meats
•Avoid processed meats as
much as possible
•Spread the word and tell
others about the dangers of sodium nitrate and MSG
Vitamin C naturally found
in fresh fruits and vegetables has been shown to help prevent the formation of
cancer-causing nitrosamines, protecting you from the devastating health effects
of processed meats. The best defense of course is to avoid process meats all
together.
