Is Eating Red Meat Harmful to Women’s Health?
January 4, 2009 – 11:34 am
Estrogen or progesterone related tumors were more likely to develop in the women who consumed larger amounts of red meat than women who minimized their intake.
In recent years studies have been conducted to try to determine if eating red meat as part of a regular diet can cause cancer. The research is most interesting to those of us who would find it hard to give up our steaks and Sunday roast beef yet keenly appreciate the importance of a healthy diet.
As much as we might hope for a different outcome, one recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine delivered unhappy news. Apparently, women who ate more than 1½ servings of red meat per day were almost twice as likely to develop hormone-related breast cancer as those who ate fewer than three portions per week.
The study tracked the diets and health of 90,000 women for a period extending over two decades. The resulting statistics made it hard to dispute the conclusion.
The hard fact is that estrogen or progesterone related tumors were more likely to develop in the women who consumed larger amounts of red meat than women who minimized their intake.
Although researchers considered other factors such as smoking and body fat, they still found that red meat was linked with an increased risk of breast cancer.
For more information check out: American Cancer Society
Photo: Hot Meteor
8 Responses to “Is Eating Red Meat Harmful to Women’s Health?”
I think that everything is related to bad health. Isn’t the important thing to eat only a little of all things. Of course if we eat one pound burgers everyday there will be some bad consequences, but all things in moderation is my motto.
By Lydia on Jan 13, 2009
Hooray Lydia! I couldn’t agree with you more.
By rita morgan on Jan 14, 2009
I’d be very curious to find out what the rates were before the cattle industry started pumping cows full of antibiotics and hormones.
By Aftercancer on Jan 15, 2009
Aftercancer has a good point. I always buy milk that does not contain antibiotics or hormones. However, I haven’t been as conscientious with my meat. Hmmm… something to think about.
By rita morgan on Feb 11, 2009
i am a vegetarian and i agree that it may not be health to consume synthetic hormones, but how do you prove it. i’ve been loking for statistics to back up my statement but i cant seam to find anything reliable.
By Carl on Nov 20, 2009
Aren’t some red meats high in saturated fat, which leads to cholesterol and consequently heart disease?
So maybe it’s best to avoid red meat altogether, why take the risk of cancer and heart disease?
Baby Intelligence
By Thomas Shaw on Jul 5, 2010
We all know that red meat is not good for us BUT isn’t it hard to give up a delicious steak? Maybe just a little now and then….
By rita morgan on Jul 5, 2010