• Question: Is it true that if you cook a meat in a specific way, it can cause cancer??

    Asked by ssj98sami to Alan on 18 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Alan Winfield

      Alan Winfield answered on 18 Mar 2011:

      Sorry I really have no idea, but I’m sure Sarah will be able to answer your question. Good question though – I will be interested in the answer too.

Comments

  • Photo: Sarah

    Sarah commented on :

    @ ssj98sami – no, cooking meat and eating it cannot give you cancer. Some people say that about barbeques, but it is really not a problem. However, a diet that is very high in red meat (beef and pork) and processed meat like burgers, can increase your risk of bowel cancer as you get older. And the reason why that is, is to do with poo! However i’m guessing you don’t want a big rambling answer about poo… so i will stop here!

  • Photo: Murray

    Murray commented on :

    More on poo please Sarah. I think the environmental factors in cancer are really interesting. Aside from bowel cancer, to what extent do you think that cancer can be attributed to our lifestyles (exercise or lack of it, pollution, etc?)

    • Photo: Sarah

      Sarah commented on :

      ok the poo story has two angles: firstly, people who eat red meat, have slower bowl movements, meat takes a longer time to digest (also people that eat lot of red meat often don’t eat a lot of fibre but that’s a different story), secondly, red meat is digested into some toxic by-products such as aldehydes. These toxic by-products can damage the lining of the bowels and also kill good bacteria that live there and help you digest your food. If you’re having slow bowel movements, the longer the time that these toxic chemicals and sitting in your body.

      Factors that damage your body increase your risk of cancer.

      The extend to which cancer can be attributed to our lifestyles is large. I can’t put a number on it, but just think of all the harmful things people do to their bodies… excessive tanning, binge drinking, smoking, diet, obesity, lack of exercise. Pollution is an interesting factor, there are chemicals out there that are proven carcinogens. However, getting cancer is still about risk and chance. A perfectly healthy individual can still be stricken whilst a binge-drinking heavy smoker can remain cancer-free.

      There’s nothing wrong with being healthy and reducing your risk by modifying your lifestyle though. Most of these factors can contribute to other diseases and conditions as well!