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Red Meat Causes Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the biggest fears that all women share. It seems to be on the increase and a new study shows that women may increase their risk of getting breast cancer if they eat too much red meat. Read on…

Breast Cancer and Red Meat Findings

A new study out of Harvard University has shown that women who eat red meat more than twice a day DOUBLE their chances of getting breast cancer. This is an alarming statistic and makes one wonder whether small amounts of red meat are doing harm also.

Health Benefits of Red Meat

Red meat has long been held one of the most healthy meats that a person can eat. Government based research has often pointed to the fact that red meat is essential to a healthy and well functioning body. Recently in Australia there have even been government funded adverts on television promoting red meat at least three times a week.

It may be because of this heavy promotion that the latest research saying that increased red meat consumption can cause breast cancer has got many women a little bit worried. They have long been told that the protein, iron, etc. is amazingly good for them and are not wondering whether they have to back track and stop eating so much.

Important Points to Make

There are a few points that I want to make in regards to this latest breast cancer research.

1. This type of research comes out all the time. The funding often comes from a corporation that expects a certain outcome much like the CSIRO’s Total Wellbeing Diet Book which was sponsored by and Australian Meat industry body. That being said, it is important to look at the wisdom behind the findings and make our own conclusions and/or wait for the findings to be supported by a separate study. However, in this case, the study seems to have been very well researched. It was conducted over 12 years with over 90, 000 patients thus making the findings much more reliable (ABC News 2006)
2. The findings said that women who ate red meat more than twice a day doubled their chances of getting breast cancer. I don’t know about you but I cannot think of anyone who eats that much meat. Perhaps it isn’t anything to worry about.
3. Do the health benefits of eating red meat out weight the risk of not eating red meat?
4. Likewise, are the alternatives to red meat (pork, chicken, fish, etc.) any better than the red meat for this type of concern?

Preventing Cancer

Prevention is obviously the best medicine when it comes to cancer. Although we don’t really know what causes cancer all experts agree that the risk can be diminished by eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, getting lots of exercise and doing all those other things that a healthy person does.

Real Women's Fitness Forum - learn more about diet & fitness.

Does anyone have any comments about these findings or know of any similar findings in the past that have been discredited?

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