$Unique_ID{BRK02393}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Will Eating Less Meat Reduce Cancer Risk?}
$Subject{eating less meat cholesterol cancer fat diet colon cancers neoplasm
neoplasms nutrition nutritions nutritious food foods diets eat ca}
$Volume{B-26}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Will Eating Less Meat Reduce Cancer Risk?


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QUESTION:  We have been eating less meat these days, because of a cholesterol
problem my husband has.  When we visited friends for dinner, we were served a
fish dish, because they have cut back on their meat consumption as well.
However they told us they were doing this to reduce the chance of developing
cancer.  They said their doctor told them that the fat in the meat was the
cause for this.  Can you tell us if this is true?

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ANSWER:  There have been many such theories concerning the relationship of
animal fat in the diet and the relationship with the development of cancer of
the colon.  They probably haven't had as much publicity as the connection with
cholesterol, but there is a good bit of evidence that this is so.  From the
most recent study it seems that the risk of colon cancer may be as much as
twice as high when high levels of animal fat are eaten that for those who eat
only occasional meals of meat.  The correlation does not hold for animal fat
from dairy sources, nor for fat from vegetable source.
     Several other trends were observed.  Eating fish reduced the risks,
removing skin from chicken meals helped, while processed meats and liver
increased the risk.  The effect of fiber in the diet was also studied, and
seemed to reduce risks as well.  It is probable that there are many factors
that affect the development of this type of cancer, but the general dietary
recommendations for lower intake of meats, substituting fish and chicken, and
increasing fiber intake from fruits, all seem to have been substantiated by
this study that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.