More than half of Brits unaware that eating processed meat can lead to bowel cancer, survey says

SIXTY per cent of Brits are unaware consuming processed meat can result in bowel most cancers.

A ballot of two,000 adults discovered 27 per cent weren't frightened in any respect concerning the potential impression processed meat might have on their well being - particularly their threat of bowel most cancers.

Meet preservation ingredients such as nitrites and nitrates react with the body when consumed
Meet preservation elements corresponding to nitrites and nitrates react with the physique when consumedCredit score: Getty

The reaction between those chemicals and the body can increase the risk of bowel cancer
The response between these chemical substances and the physique can enhance the chance of bowel most cancersCredit score: Getty

Processed meat is outlined as any meat that has been preserved by smoking, curing, salting, or including chemical preservatives, corresponding to ham, bacon and sausages, in addition to luncheon meats.

When eaten, sure chemical substances that are added to meat to protect it, corresponding to nitrates and nitrites, react with the physique.

It's this response, amongst different issues, which contributes to the rise in threat of bowel most cancers.

It additionally emerged 4 in 5 of these surveyed had been meat-eaters, who eat a median of 40g of processed meat a day, with 1 / 4 consuming greater than 50g per day.

The analysis was commissioned for World Most cancers Analysis Fund’s Most cancers Prevention Motion Week, which runs from Twentieth-Twenty sixth February and this yr goals to focus on the hyperlink between processed meat and bowel most cancers.

Evaluation of worldwide analysis carried out by the charity discovered those that commonly eat processed meat have a 16 per cent elevated threat of creating bowel most cancers for each 50g they eat, in comparison with those that don’t eat it.

It additionally signifies processed meat consumption is linked to 14.5 per cent of male and 10 per cent of feminine bowel most cancers circumstances.

Regardless of this, 58 per cent of adults believed they eat about the correct quantity of processed meat, and solely 24 per cent felt they'd an excessive amount of.

Dr Helen Croker, head of analysis interpretation at World Most cancers Analysis Fund, mentioned: "We all know bowel most cancers is the fourth commonest most cancers within the UK and that 54 per cent of bowel most cancers circumstances may very well be prevented.

“Our evaluation of worldwide analysis additionally exhibits that those that commonly eat processed meat have an elevated threat of bowel most cancers.

"We wish to elevate consciousness of this and spotlight steps that individuals can take to assist scale back this threat.

“The work we do centres round prevention - which is why we carried out this analysis to grasp how many individuals are conscious of the hyperlink between processed meat and bowel most cancers, and the way we might help folks scale back this threat.

“This Most cancers Prevention Motion Week, we're encouraging folks to participate within the Nice British Sarnie Swap and to scale back how a lot processed meat they eat, serving to to decrease their threat of bowel most cancers, by swapping the processed meat of their sandwiches for heathier and reasonably priced alternate options.”

The analysis additionally discovered simply 53 per cent have solely a tough thought of what goes into making processed meat, with 25 per cent admitting they'd no thought.

Simply 50 per cent and 43 per cent had been conscious a sausage sandwich and ham sandwich respectively include processed meat.

The ballot, carried out by OnePoll, discovered bacon was the mostly consumed processed meat (66 per cent) by meat-eaters, adopted by sausage (65 per cent) and ham (63 per cent).

Bacon (15 per cent) can be the nation’s favorite sandwich filling, together with cheese (14 per cent) and egg mayo (13 per cent).

It additionally revealed the principle causes folks appreciated processed meat had been for the style (55 per cent), value (44 per cent) and comfort (41 per cent).

Nonetheless, there's a willingness amongst 48 per cent of meat-eaters to scale back the quantity of processed meat they eat, with 67 per cent of adults prepared to scale back their consumption in favour of more healthy alternate options.

To assist with this, the charity is encouraging folks to participate in its Nice British Sarnie Swap and has a reality sheet and quiz to assist lower out the confusion round processed meat.

Matt Lambert, well being data and promotion supervisor at World Most cancers Analysis Fund mentioned: “It’s nice to see that many individuals wish to swap out processed meat for alternate options.

"We wish to assist folks make adjustments to their weight loss plan by giving them some more healthy swap concepts.

“Take into account elements corresponding to chopped, boiled eggs, tinned fish, or hummus with roasted greens.

"You might additionally deplete any leftover roast hen for a next-day sandwich.

“We all know that within the present financial local weather, value is an enormous issue when selecting meals, which is why our web site has quite a few reasonably priced and wholesome sandwich filling concepts.”

The research reveals 27% of Brits are not concerned about the potentially harmful impact of processed meat
The analysis reveals 27% of Brits aren't involved concerning the doubtlessly dangerous impression of processed meatCredit score: Getty

World Cancer Research Fund is advising people to introduce healthier foods into their diet to reduce their risk of bowel cancer
World Most cancers Analysis Fund is advising folks to introduce more healthy meals into their weight loss plan to scale back their threat of bowel most cancersCredit score: Matilda Bourne/WCRF

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