May 10, 2004
NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS
"Nutrition news is important.  We help you understand it!"

Today's Topic: Meat and Colon Polyps

Red meat is often considered a villain for cancer risk by the public
and even by some scientists.  While some studies justify this view,
most do not.  The newest volley in this battle finds that preparation
methods considered unfavorable by the scientists did not change the
risk of getting precancerous polyps.

In a study conducted in Denmark of over 430 people with colon polyps
and a similar number without, there was no difference in risk by
frequency of meat eating, preference for darkly browned meat, or other
cooking techniques.  The study was published in the April 2004 issue
of Cancer Causes and Control.  < http://tinyurl.com/yqdkh >

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: No matter what the
cooking method, two-thirds of the meat samples contained no
carcinogens and even when present, the risk of colon polyps was not
increased.  The people with tumors were significantly older, heavier,
and more likely to smoke cigarettes.