Eating Processed Meat May Raise Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
The argument against eating meat, or at least refraining from eating processed meat, keeps getting stronger. Swedish researchers have found that eating 50g (1 3/4 oz) of processed meat daily can raise the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 19%, reported the BBC.
The study, done by Dr. Susanna Larson and Dr. A Wolk, was published in the British Journal of Cancer. It followed 6,643 patients with pancreatic cancer, an especially fatal disease that carries a five year survival rate of just 5.5%.
As of now, it's unclear what it is about the processed meat the leads to the elevated risk. The researchers concluded:
Findings from this meta-analysis indicate 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.
Whatever the underlying cause, this is yet more evidence that eating large amounts of meat is just plain unhealthy- (and it takes a major toll on the planet, too.)