24/02/2025
Meat and bowel cancer
There is now convincing scientific evidence that eating processed meat increases bowel cancer risk.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) recommends that people avoid eating processed meat.
Processed meats include any meat that has been preserved by curing, salting or smoking, or by adding chemical preservatives. These include hot dogs, ham, bacon, and some sausages and burgers.
It is recommended that children are not given processed meats. This is because many of the habits we develop as children last into adulthood. Substitutes for processed meats that are recommended for children include fish or lean poultry, lean meats or low-fat cheese.
There is convincing evidence that red meat also increases a personโs risk of bowel cancer. It is recommended that individuals, particularly men, decrease their intake of red meat.
The WCRF recommends limiting the amount of fresh red meat we eat to less than 500 g of cooked (or 700 g uncooked) red meat a week. Some research suggests that eating burnt or charred meat may increase cancer risk, but the evidence is unclear.
The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends consuming a range of a variety of foods from the food group โlean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes and beans'.
Fats and cancer
There has been a great deal of interest in a possible link between fat and cancer.
Current evidence does not indicate a direct link between fat intake and particular types of cancer (with the possible exception of prostate cancer). However, a high-fat diet may lead to obesity, which is a risk factor for several cancers, including cancers of the colon, breast, kidney, oesophagus, gallbladder and endometrium.
Fruits, vegetables and cancer
Eating fruit and vegetables has long been known to provide many health benefits.
Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which may help to decrease your risk of cancer in particular areas of the digestive system, such as the mouth and stomach.
Evidence has weakened over recent years over the role of fruit and vegetables in preventing cancer. Yet fruits and vegetables are still an important part of your diet and may play an indirect effect of preventing cancer because they are relatively low in kilojoules (energy) and consumption is associated with a healthier weight.