How Red Meat Can Harm You
by Sam F
Many people love the taste of hamburgers and hot dogs and other red meats. Even though red meat gives you protein, a new study shows that red meat is harmful because it can cause cancerous tumors. This research was conducted by researchers from University of California and San Diego School of Medicine.
When you eat a delicious hamburger, a molecule enters your body which causes swelling which can lead to a tumor. Neu5Gc or glycan, or a sugar molecule which humans don’t make can combine with the tissue because you ate a hamburger. Your body then develops anti- Neu5Gc which reacts to make your tissue have swelling constantly. They found out that Neu5Gc causes tumors because they saw a lot more of it in tissues that have tumors then tissues with out it, so it must mean it causes tumors. Scientists also found out that the constant swelling from Neu5Gc can also stimulate cancer.
Scientists have tried this on mice. Scientists got a lot of mice that didn’t have much Neu5Gc. They did this because it is like a human that has not eat a hamburger yet. The scientists caused the mice to have tumors and then they gave half of the mice anti-Neu5Gc so they can mimic a human. The mice given the anti-Neu5Gc had tumors that grew even more and the other mice given this didn’t have as severe tumors. This proves that red meat can not be the best selection to receive protein from.
Is red meat the only meat that can cause this? How many hamburgers do you think you have to eat in order for you to develop a tumor? Would you be able to abandon this addictive meat?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
wow sam this is interesting. I have always known that red meat could harm you, but i never knew that it could give u tumors. At this website it says all the other badd things that can happen to you by eating red meat. I dont think that i could ever abandon eating red meat, mostly because it is all i eat. The website below is extremely interesting.http://www.slashfood.com/2006/11/27/pros-and-cons-of-eating-red-meat/
November 19th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Great post Sam. I was reading an article about not how fried foods can cause cancer. There is a chemical called acrylamide which has been known to cause cancer. Acrylamide is found in starchy foods that have been fried, while it is not found in the same food that is cooked a different way. Even though this toxin has not been proven to effect humans because the amount of fried foods we would have to eat to get the toxin is outragous. The article I read is below.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA68298
November 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Nice post Sam. I strongly agree with the results concluded from this experiment. I believe that over-consumption of any food is hazardous to ones health. People should be conscious of what they eat, and make sure they have well balanced meals throughout the day.
Red meat should not be totally ignored or put off the market, because it is true, it does nourish the body with protein. On the negative side, it puts a lot of saturated fat into the body. This is because conventional cattle raised to be slaughtered are not fed proper diets. These conventional cattle raised in insufficient environments are not raised in a humane way.
The information provided in the following website compares three types of cows provided at our grocery store: conventional, organic, and kosher. I think that organic and kosher meat is the best way to go for America, because there are somewhat ethical standards that the raisers and butchers have to follow. Organic beef is fed grass grown without pesticides, and is never injected with any hormones, the most natural way for cattle. Kosher cattle is raised very naturally too. Kosher takes a step further than organic and also sets standards for how the meat is prepared. I think that is a good standard to have. Both of these methods top conventional cows because this is the most unnatural for cows to be raised. Some cattle are injected with hormones and fed grain to “fatten up” and be sold for a higher price. I think this is a very unethical way for farmers and butchers.
http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Controversies/meat.htm
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:10 am
I found an article telling us how to eat red meat healthily. There are some really interesting comments in it.
Minimize consumption of grilled meats, which could be carcinogenic. When eating hamburgers and steaks, have lacto-fermented, cruciferous vegetables with them, such as sauerkraut or kimchi. These vegetables neutralize the substances in the meat which cause cancer.
Cook full-fat portions of meat. They contain healthy anti-microbial fatty acids.
Eat organ meats, such as liver and heart. They contain health-promoting minerals and vitamins which are rare in other foods.
Make your own bouillon from heef and lamb bones, especially the bone marrow. The minerals and gelatine in bone broth protect us from osteoporosis and stomach ailments.
Tender portions of red meat like filet and rib cuts of beef or leg of lamb, should be eaten rare, with most of their vitamin and enzyme content intact.
If you do the above you will reduce your risk of cancer and be able to enjoy red meat without a bad conscience!
http://allwomenstalk.com/7-healthy-rules-to-enjoy-red-meat/
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Sam,
This is a very good post that encompasses the topic of red meat dangers. The fact that it can develop tumors is just one of innumerable “scary” facts about red meat and their effects on the human body. In lower class families less lean meat is generally consumed as leaner cuts (i.e. Filet Mignon, NY Strip) are more costly. It is these fatty cuts of meat that can cause harm to the body.
Below, is a link to an article that explains some other dangers of red meat. I predict that in future, scientific revealing about the disgustingness of certain foods will compel people to make better choices as it could possibly save or prolong their life.
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/worldwfood8.htm