News report = red meat and processed meats cause cancer

Francl27
Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
edited November 13 in Food and Nutrition
Surprised it hasn't been posted yet...

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/processed-meat-causes-cancer-red-meat-probably-does-group-says-n451396

Thoughts? As everything causes cancer nowadays anyway, I have no desire to change my (very moderate) consumption of red meat and processed stuff...
«134

Replies

  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Did they say anything new? Those things have been linked to cancer (especially of the colon type) for ages.
  • Unknown
    edited October 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • Emily3907
    Emily3907 Posts: 1,461 Member
    edited October 2015
    I am willing to risk it for bacon. I don't eat it often, my main meat is usually chicken breasts.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    The whole "cause cancer" needs to be put in perspective.

    It's an increase in incidence (like 5% background increased to 6%), but still an increase.

  • Emily3907
    Emily3907 Posts: 1,461 Member

    But the little crispy bits are so yummy. :/
  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
    Being born is the only thing that is known to have a 100% death rate, so with that in mind, I'll just keep on going. I like me a nice tender Ribeye, medium. With charred edges.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    _John_ wrote: »
    The whole "cause cancer" needs to be put in perspective.

    It's an increase in incidence (like 5% background increased to 6%), but still an increase.

    Do you think all the people that pointed out glyphosate is rated a 2A carcinogen so you need to go organic will now go vegetarian since meat is in the same category?
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    edited October 2015
    #worthit

    That's pretty much my feeling towards reports like these.

    Per the report:
    50g of processed meat per day raises colorectal cancer risk 18%
    100g of red meat per day raises cancer risk 17%

    Per http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-key-statistics, the overall risk for colorectal cancer is roughly 5%. So eating the above products, may raise it to approximately 6%. That's a reasonable risk-reward ratio to me, especially considering the multitude of other risk factors, many of which seem to be much more strongly correlated with a higher overall risk factor (genetics, primarily)
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    _John_ wrote: »
    The whole "cause cancer" needs to be put in perspective.

    It's an increase in incidence (like 5% background increased to 6%), but still an increase.

    Yep...beat me to it
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    edited October 2015
    My family doesn't get cancer. We get diabetes and Alzheimer's disease instead. I know that sounds flippant (is somewhat said in jest) and, obviously, somebody in my family may get cancer some day, but this won't change how I eat. If I had a strong family history of cancer I might have a different opinion.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Consider the radiation blast we get from the sun daily....
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    I'm not downplaying that eating red meat (and cured meats) doesn't increase a cancer rate, but there are other VERY common life choices that affect cancer rates equally, and red meat can POSITIVELY effect many other aspects of health, so I would argue against it being "always harmful" if anybody were to argue that.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    My family doesn't get cancer. We get diabetes and Alzheimer's disease instead. I know that sounds flippant (is somewhat said in jest) and, obviously, somebody in my family may get cancer some day, but this won't change how I eat. If I had a strong family history of cancer I might have a different opinion.

    Given those two are killing your family members, isn't the truest thing to say is that your cancer risk a complete unknown, not unlikely? It could be that at 90 your family would look like a 2 year old Sprague-Dawley rat, just no one has made it to 90?
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.
  • PeiDub
    PeiDub Posts: 77 Member
    MommyL2015 wrote: »
    Being born is the only thing that is known to have a 100% death rate, so with that in mind, I'll just keep on going. I like me a nice tender Ribeye, medium. With charred edges.

    Yep. It's not a matter of IF you get cancer, but when. Some of us will just manage to die before it hits us.

    Basically, everything is a carcinogen.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    Just keep your intake low enough that you won't get any cancers before 2050 and you'll be all set. Unless you're over 80 in 2050, then you're hosed, I guess.

    http://www.nhs.uk/news/2015/01January/Pages/Under-80-cancer-deaths-eliminated-by-2050-claim.aspx
  • echmainfit619
    echmainfit619 Posts: 333 Member
    Once again folks, this garbage is 100% political.
  • ElJefeChief
    ElJefeChief Posts: 650 Member
    I celebrated the news by baking these with my girlfriend the other day: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/161019/dark-chocolate-bacon-cupcakes/
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    People tend to pick and choose the science that they like. It seems silly, but there is a case to be made against so many things that it's not hard to understand someone saying, "I don't care, I'm eating it anyway."

    Especially since things change, I get how it makes sense. My grandpa gave up eggs even though he loved them. Used to have two a day, every day, and quit when they told him what a healthy diet looked like (at that time.) By the time they got around to saying, "Okay, wait, a few eggs is okay," he had died.

    Plus, when you're young, it's impossible to know what is coming. Should you eat this way to prevent this or that way to prevent that? It's not like anyone can see what is going to happen to them when they're sixty years old.

    Some people don't even care and eat whatever they want, knowing it will make them die sooner. They're going on the principal that they'd rather do things they enjoy and die sooner than be cautious and live a little longer but live less happily. Old people, especially. And that's cool.

    Different strokes.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    @senecarr ; just did the maths. Hosed!
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    Media hype + Lack of common sense = poor health
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    People tend to pick and choose the science that they like. It seems silly, but there is a case to be made against so many things that it's not hard to understand someone saying, "I don't care, I'm eating it anyway."

    Especially since things change, I get how it makes sense. My grandpa gave up eggs even though he loved them. Used to have two a day, every day, and quit when they told him what a healthy diet looked like (at that time.) By the time they got around to saying, "Okay, wait, a few eggs is okay," he had died.

    Plus, when you're young, it's impossible to know what is coming. Should you eat this way to prevent this or that way to prevent that? It's not like anyone can see what is going to happen to them when they're sixty years old.

    Some people don't even care and eat whatever they want, knowing it will make them die sooner. They're going on the principal that they'd rather do things they enjoy and die sooner than be cautious and live a little longer but live less happily. Old people, especially. And that's cool.

    Different strokes.

    I don't care what people do; I just personally find the justifications of it interesting. All groups do it, but my example here was relevant to this particular finding. I'm sure the "preachy" vegans will be triumphantly shouting this while ignoring something else.

    Also, I don't think Americans realize that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily think that government/political = garbage. It's something else I find interesting about the responses to these kinds of things.

    Clearly, everyone is going to continue doing whatever they want to in spite of whatever evidence to the contrary. I just find it all fun.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    I find this odd too. Not saying one needs to worry about eating some red meat (or even processed meats) in moderation -- I don't -- but I try to be generally consistent.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    snikkins wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    People tend to pick and choose the science that they like. It seems silly, but there is a case to be made against so many things that it's not hard to understand someone saying, "I don't care, I'm eating it anyway."

    Especially since things change, I get how it makes sense. My grandpa gave up eggs even though he loved them. Used to have two a day, every day, and quit when they told him what a healthy diet looked like (at that time.) By the time they got around to saying, "Okay, wait, a few eggs is okay," he had died.

    Plus, when you're young, it's impossible to know what is coming. Should you eat this way to prevent this or that way to prevent that? It's not like anyone can see what is going to happen to them when they're sixty years old.

    Some people don't even care and eat whatever they want, knowing it will make them die sooner. They're going on the principal that they'd rather do things they enjoy and die sooner than be cautious and live a little longer but live less happily. Old people, especially. And that's cool.

    Different strokes.

    I don't care what people do; I just personally find the justifications of it interesting. All groups do it, but my example here was relevant to this particular finding. I'm sure the "preachy" vegans will be triumphantly shouting this while ignoring something else.

    Also, I don't think Americans realize that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily think that government/political = garbage. It's something else I find interesting about the responses to these kinds of things.

    Clearly, everyone is going to continue doing whatever they want to in spite of whatever evidence to the contrary. I just find it all fun.

    while the WHO is political, they can't just run away and be silly with the science they "choose" to use and what they don't. So even if personal biases fit into things, decisions of government agencies like the EPA still have to have some backup from science.

    SOOO many aspects of climate change are in this boat. One can pick and choose data to fit almost any narrative they want if they research heard enough.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    I'm just saying... I still live in fear of the deadly chemical combination of di-hydrogen monoxide, so you do what you want to. I'll go back to being afraid of everything and decreasing my quality of life in order to preserve it.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    MommyL2015 wrote: »
    Being born is the only thing that is known to have a 100% death rate.

    I know you were just being silly, but this is far from true. Most people who are born do not die from it. And I'm sure there are other things with a 100% death rate. Being beheaded, for example.
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    MommyL2015 wrote: »
    Being born is the only thing that is known to have a 100% death rate.

    I know you were just being silly, but this is far from true. Most people who are born do not die from it. And I'm sure there are other things with a 100% death rate. Being beheaded, for example.

    I'm pretty sure they meant that everyone who is born will die... or that being born is a 100% indicator that at some point, you will die. Not that the act of being born instantly led to death.
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    I find this odd too. Not saying one needs to worry about eating some red meat (or even processed meats) in moderation -- I don't -- but I try to be generally consistent.

    Yes, exactly. Consistency. If I still ate meat, I'd still do so in moderation, just like I do with sugar.
    _John_ wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    People tend to pick and choose the science that they like. It seems silly, but there is a case to be made against so many things that it's not hard to understand someone saying, "I don't care, I'm eating it anyway."

    Especially since things change, I get how it makes sense. My grandpa gave up eggs even though he loved them. Used to have two a day, every day, and quit when they told him what a healthy diet looked like (at that time.) By the time they got around to saying, "Okay, wait, a few eggs is okay," he had died.

    Plus, when you're young, it's impossible to know what is coming. Should you eat this way to prevent this or that way to prevent that? It's not like anyone can see what is going to happen to them when they're sixty years old.

    Some people don't even care and eat whatever they want, knowing it will make them die sooner. They're going on the principal that they'd rather do things they enjoy and die sooner than be cautious and live a little longer but live less happily. Old people, especially. And that's cool.

    Different strokes.

    I don't care what people do; I just personally find the justifications of it interesting. All groups do it, but my example here was relevant to this particular finding. I'm sure the "preachy" vegans will be triumphantly shouting this while ignoring something else.

    Also, I don't think Americans realize that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily think that government/political = garbage. It's something else I find interesting about the responses to these kinds of things.

    Clearly, everyone is going to continue doing whatever they want to in spite of whatever evidence to the contrary. I just find it all fun.

    while the WHO is political, they can't just run away and be silly with the science they "choose" to use and what they don't. So even if personal biases fit into things, decisions of government agencies like the EPA still have to have some backup from science.

    SOOO many aspects of climate change are in this boat. One can pick and choose data to fit almost any narrative they want if they research heard enough.

    Also, yes, exactly. It definitely reflects a lack of understanding about how the US government works, but Americans do tend to have a knee-jerk negative reaction to government anything; we have a level of distrust that isn't really as prominent in other countries, even when not deserved. Sometimes, it totally is, but that doesn't mean it's all bad.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    MommyL2015 wrote: »
    Being born is the only thing that is known to have a 100% death rate.

    I know you were just being silly, but this is far from true. Most people who are born do not die from it. And I'm sure there are other things with a 100% death rate. Being beheaded, for example.

    I'm pretty sure they meant that everyone who is born will die... or that being born is a 100% indicator that at some point, you will die. Not that the act of being born instantly led to death.

    I assumed the same. But that's not what they said.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    MommyL2015 wrote: »
    Being born is the only thing that is known to have a 100% death rate.

    I know you were just being silly, but this is far from true. Most people who are born do not die from it. And I'm sure there are other things with a 100% death rate. Being beheaded, for example.

    Huh? There are people who are born that don't die?? (Superheroes and cloned soap opera characters notwithstanding)??

    snikkins wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    I find this odd too. Not saying one needs to worry about eating some red meat (or even processed meats) in moderation -- I don't -- but I try to be generally consistent.

    Yes, exactly. Consistency. If I still ate meat, I'd still do so in moderation, just like I do with sugar.
    _John_ wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    snikkins wrote: »
    I think the thing I find the most fascinating about these reports of late is the risks that people are willing to take. For example, I've seen a few posts from people (in general, not talking solely about MFP) who are staunch low carb advocates because sugar will kill you just completely dismiss this, whereas they preach the WHO sugar recommendations as gospel.

    People tend to pick and choose the science that they like. It seems silly, but there is a case to be made against so many things that it's not hard to understand someone saying, "I don't care, I'm eating it anyway."

    Especially since things change, I get how it makes sense. My grandpa gave up eggs even though he loved them. Used to have two a day, every day, and quit when they told him what a healthy diet looked like (at that time.) By the time they got around to saying, "Okay, wait, a few eggs is okay," he had died.

    Plus, when you're young, it's impossible to know what is coming. Should you eat this way to prevent this or that way to prevent that? It's not like anyone can see what is going to happen to them when they're sixty years old.

    Some people don't even care and eat whatever they want, knowing it will make them die sooner. They're going on the principal that they'd rather do things they enjoy and die sooner than be cautious and live a little longer but live less happily. Old people, especially. And that's cool.

    Different strokes.

    I don't care what people do; I just personally find the justifications of it interesting. All groups do it, but my example here was relevant to this particular finding. I'm sure the "preachy" vegans will be triumphantly shouting this while ignoring something else.

    Also, I don't think Americans realize that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily think that government/political = garbage. It's something else I find interesting about the responses to these kinds of things.

    Clearly, everyone is going to continue doing whatever they want to in spite of whatever evidence to the contrary. I just find it all fun.

    while the WHO is political, they can't just run away and be silly with the science they "choose" to use and what they don't. So even if personal biases fit into things, decisions of government agencies like the EPA still have to have some backup from science.

    SOOO many aspects of climate change are in this boat. One can pick and choose data to fit almost any narrative they want if they research heard enough.

    Also, yes, exactly. It definitely reflects a lack of understanding about how the US government works, but Americans do tend to have a knee-jerk negative reaction to government anything; we have a level of distrust that isn't really as prominent in other countries, even when not deserved. Sometimes, it totally is, but that doesn't mean it's all bad.

    For me it's not the knee-jerk negative reaction to 'government' but 'media headlines'. As pointed out above, what the media trumpets as 'meat causes cancer' really is 'there's a relatively miniscule increase in the incidence of cancer correlated with eating certain amounts of processed meat each day'.
This discussion has been closed.