WHO cancer analysis meat products such as cured sausage as carcinogenic as cigarettes

Red meat is soon rated as carcinogenic as cigarettes and alcohol
Processed meats such as ham, bacon and salami are expected to be carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the worst rating that can be achieved in the WHO ranking.

It is to be expected that the World Health Organization puts the threat of bacon and other meat products to our health on a par with the danger posed by cigarettes. The Cancer Report 2015 will be released next Monday according to WHO. Already in the British media first information about the content is spreading. The report will probably strike like a bomb at farmers and fast food chains, so the speculation. At the same time many questions are raised. For example, it is questionable whether and what exactly the meat producers and sellers knew of the carcinogenic substances in meat products.

Cured sausages as harmful as smoking? Image: Christian Müller - fotolia

WHO classifies processed meat as carcinogenic as asbestos and arsenic
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has for several years pointed out that there is strong evidence that consumption of much red meat can lead to colon cancer. Now WHO also responds to these statements. As of Monday, WHO is expected to rank processed meat such as ham, bacon and salami in the worst of five possible rating categories. This contains only substances that are carcinogenic in humans, such as alcohol, asbestos, arsenic and cigarettes.

Twelve tips and rules to avoid cancer
Earlier this month, health experts in Australia started a project to educate on the myths about cancer. The researchers developed a number of tips that can help people actively reduce their cancer risk. Then you will find the best advice from scientists to avoid cancer:

• Stop smoking. This hard-to-place habit builds up tar in our lungs and is directly related to millions of cancer deaths each year.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure. As a result of harmful UV rays, there are approximately 7,200 melanoma deaths annually in Australia alone. Avoid sunburns and protect your skin as much as possible.
• Make sure your diet does not consume too much red meat. This could help to prevent colon cancer. Doctors recommend that men should not eat more than 30 grams and women should not consume more than 25 grams per day.
• Foods that contain lots of fiber are healthy for the intestines. As people in developed countries consume a lot of processed meat products and less fiber, their risk of colon cancer is increased. In poorer countries, where more vegetables are eaten, fiber intake is significantly higher and the rate of colorectal cancer is usually much lower.
• The Australian doctors said that two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables per day are ideal for a healthy diet. Overall, an unhealthy diet causes nearly as many deaths as cancer from too much solar radiation. In Australia, about 7,000 people die every year from cancer due to a wrong diet.
• Obesity and overweight based on malnutrition and lack of exercise are linked to cancer. Australia has about 3,000 cancer deaths each year related to obesity.
• Cancer can be caused by infections. Almost 3,450 people die each year in Australia due to cancer caused by an infection. For example, human papillomavirus infections can lead to cervical cancer in women. Take care of your vaccine protection and take regular check-ups to protect yourself.
• Drink less alcohol. Cancers such as liver cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer and oral cancer can be triggered by alcohol and kill about 3,200 Australians a year.
• Avoid lack of exercise. You should exercise at least one hour a day or exercise to strengthen your immune system and reduce your hormone levels. About 1,800 people die in Australia each year from cancer related to lack of exercise and its consequences.
• Hormone replacement therapy causes nearly 540 cancer-related deaths each year in Australia. The treatment is predominantly used to relieve the symptoms of menopause in women. The therapy often leads to breast cancer, but has helped, according to the researchers in 52 cases last year, to prevent colon cancer.
• Bizarrely, inadequate breastfeeding can also lead to cancer. Breastfeeding for a period of twelve months could, according to the researchers, help prevent around 240 cancers in Australia each year.
• Taking aspirin can help prevent cancer. The drug protects against colorectal and oesophageal cancers every year in about 232 cases. But aspirin can also cause strokes. (As)