The next time you eat dinner, skip the juicy steak or hamburger and go for fresh boneless chicken breast or salmon. According to several studies, women who eat a lot of red meat had a significantly higher risk for breast cancer. But replacing a daily serving of red meat with chicken or fish, appeared to lower breast cancer risk.
While the connection between red meat and breast cancer isn’t clear, researchers do have a few guesses. One possibility is that when red meat is cooked at high temperatures it tends to release cancer-causing by-products. Second possibility is that hormones given to cattle to increase their growth can also raise a woman’s hormone levels. Lastly, the third possibility is that processed meats contain nitrates, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Breast cancer isn’t the only health issue associated with consuming too much red meat. It can also raise a person’s risk for additional health problems like Alzheimer’s, stroke, heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.
It is recommended to limit consumption of red meats, especially those that are processed and high in fat. So, choose other lean protein sources like fish or poultry. Here are some examples of food you can eat to help you cut down on red meat. You can trade hamburgers for veggie burgers and also give up beef for beans, which is an excellent meat substitute because they are high in protein, filled with fiber, and low in fat.
To minimize risk and maximize benefits, choose non-processed meat, avoid high-heat cooking, and include plant foods in your diet.