Eating Processed Meats Adds Pancreatic Cancer Risk

With fat emerging as a possible sixth taste, we must be mindful of our consumption of fatty foods.  The BBC reports a link between eating processed meats, such as bacon and sausages, and pancreatic cancer.

A new study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, finds that the ingestion of processed meats leads to a higher risk of pancreatic cancer in men, and eating red meat raises the risk for both men and women. In fact, eating an extra 50 grams a day of processed meat is enough to raise pancreatic cancer risk by 19 percent.

Researchers analyzed data from 11 other trials, including more than 6,000 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The study concludes that "processed meat consumption is positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Red meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in men. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings."

With food and drink, moderation is always key. Your best bet?  Limit your intake of red meat.

The Daily Byte is a regular column dedicated to covering interesting food news and trends across the country. Click here for previous columns.