Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : October 24, 2015 12:07 PM IST
Processed food is bad for health. Yes, we all know that. Not only does it make you obese, but also increases your blood cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and also increases you blood pressure making you more prone to cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Obesity has now become an epidemic affecting children the most. The number of cases are on a rise and the easy availability of junk food coupled with a lack of exercise is one of the biggest reasons for this rise. But apart from heart disease and obesity, did you know junk food can cause cancer?
According to latest reports, The World Health Organisation is planning to label processed meat like bacon and sausages as probable carcinogens. Apart from processed meat, red meat will also be labelled as probably carcinogenic to humans. The announcement will be made on Monday and processed meat will be put in the same category as cigarettes, alcohol and asbestos. (Read: Reduce red meat to stay away from cancer of the gut)
Various studies have established the link between eating red or processed meat and colon cancer. Processed meat is made by smoking, curing and adding chemicals that can be dangerous to the body. Another study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research also linked eating red meat to the increased risk of prostate cancer. Previously, a high protein diet, especially, from animal sources was linked with an increased risk of cancer and diabetes. (Read: Beware a high protein diet could give you cancer!)
Supporting the claim, the NHS choices website says that even if red meat forms a part of a healthy diet eating it in excess can have adverse effects on one's health and people who eat a lot of red and processed meat are at an increased risk of bowel cancer. (Read: If these 28 everyday things could give you cancer, you'd be dead many times over by now)
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