When Sausages Become a Source of Carcinogens
By Jerry Chik, & Leo Leung, Academic Articles, Chemistry Society, SS, HKUSU | January 26
What would be an ordinary breakfast for Hong Kongers. Most of you might probably come up with sausages and egg scramble, with a nice cup of coffee. Sausages and bacons are undoubtedly wonderful and lovable, but you may want to think it again now. The World Health Organizationˇ¦s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified processed meat as the most cancer-inducing substances, alongside asbestos and cigarettes, in its list.
The organization defines processed meat as any type of meat that is salted, cured or smoked to enhance its flavor or preserve it. It might include beef, pork as well as meat sausages.
Alice Bender, the associate director of the program, said that 50 grams of processed meat, which is about 2 slices of ham, or equivalent, can raise the risk of colon or colorectal cancer significantly by 18%. Remarkably, Bender also noted that the risks could be gradually increasing with continuous consumption. That is to say, the risks would be relatively small to begin with, but rise to high level if one consumes it everyday.
N-nitroso compounds
N-nitroso compounds, such as nitrosamines, are one of the notorious cancer-causing substances prevalent in all sort of processed meat. Though they are not added intentionally, nitrites as food additives in these flesh may finally produce these carcinogens. Available evidence supports that nitrosamines and their derivatives may induce gastric and oesophageal cancers, with early symptoms like irritated bowel and difficult swallowing.
Structural formula of N-nitroso compounds
PAHs
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are another kind of carcinogens produced from high-temperature cooking, such as grilling and roasting, and smoking of meat. Not barely do they pose higher risk of cancers, PAHs may also threaten the early mental development of children, or even before their births, as studied by the School of Public Health of Columbia University, NYC. Author Frederica P. Perera added that children who have been exposed to PAHs for long are more susceptible to anxiety and more likely to have poor performance in intelligence tests.
Structural formula of Coronene, a kind of PAHs (It is not a beehive!!)
Fats
Fats could be the evilest thing ladies can ever imagine. Processed meat may contain surprising amount of saturated fat. Sausages and smoked meat can contain up to 9% of saturated fat by weight. This means a few pieces of sausages may already account for your whole-day saturated fat intake. Such staggering figure could lead to various cardiovascular diseases, cancers and lowered bone density in long run.
Other than this, chemicals in the red components are suspected to alter the composition of human intestinal lining, thus causing gastrointestinal upset and even cancers. It is generally accepted that processed red meat is harmful along human digestive tract.
Meat industry has slammed the WHO report as biased and misleading. Some suspected the data were tortured to produce specific outcomes. Else, Shalene McNeill, a registered dietitian, agreed that maintaining a balanced diet is of utmost importance for keeping oneself wholesome in all aspects. Despite substantial evidence discovered by IARC, the organization did not deny the consumption of processed meat, at least not wholly.
Dietitians and researchers recommended fans of bacons and sausages to try cutting down the amount they eat, or replace them with fish and poultry, which contain less fat and carcinogens. Bear in mind that we should not solely attribute cancer-formation to meat consumption, but to various undesirable lifestyles, such as lack of physical activities or smoking. Anyway, you may now want to think twice before you enjoy the heavenly sausages and bacons.
References:
2. http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/26/news/red-meat-processed-cancer-world-health-organization/
4. http://www.livescience.com/52651-red-meat-cancer-warning-explained.html
Photo credits:
1. http://www.livescience.com/52651-red-meat-cancer-warning-explained.html
2. http://www.ehs.ucsb.edu/labsafety-chp/sec2/exposure-limits-laboratory-chemicals-and-carcinogens
3. http://ibs.about.com/od/diarrhea/a/Diarrhea-After-Eating.htm
4. http://www.handsonscotland.co.uk/topics/anxiety/general.html
5. http://www.md-health.com/How-Much-Saturated-Fat-a-Day.html