If you make a conscious effort to minimize your intake of processed meats, your pancreas will thank you.
In a recent study, people who ate the most processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, cold cuts, and sausage, had as much as a 67 percent increase in their risk of pancreatic cancer. Protein choices such as fish, poultry, and eggs were not associated with an increased risk of the disease.
Researchers are not sure why study participants whose diets were high in processed meats experienced an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Researchers speculate that it may be due to the nitrite preservatives and similar additives used in them. The pancreas is a small gland near the stomach that releases digestive enzymes into the intestine and secretes insulin, the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include advanced age (50 years or older), smoking, and a history of inflammation of the pancreas. Diabetes may increase pancreatic cancer risk as well.
RealAge Benefit: Actively patrolling your health can make your RealAge as much as 12 years younger.
Meat intake increases the risk for pancreatic cancer: the multiethnic cohort. Nöthlings, U., Wilkens, L. R., Murphy, S. P., Henderson, B. E., Kolonel, L. N., 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 2005;46:[5821].
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