Cured meats are one of the core of human civilization. Every culture in the world has some sort of cured meat, from bacon to sausage to smoked everything… and it’s some of the most popular food out there. Bacon in particular seems to be beloved, be it as a cure for a hangover or as a wonderful smell for every room in the home. However, it’s not that good for you, and a new finding from the World Health Organization increases that unhealthiness. The WHO says that cured meats like bacon, ham, and sausage increase cancer risk. Joining cured meat on the danger list? Red meat.
“Overall, the Working Group classified consumption of processed meat as ‘carcinogenic to humans’ on the basis of sufficient evidence for colorectal cancer,” reads the report as published in The Lancet. “Additionally, a positive association with the consumption of processed meat was found for stomach cancer. The Working Group classified consumption of red meat as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans. Consumption of red meat was also positively associated with pancreatic and with prostate cancer.”
Of course, health officials suggest that people cut back on consumption of cured and red meats, and have done this for a long time, but I look at it a little more pragmatically. Everything enjoyable gives you cancer, no matter what it might be. Over-consumption of anything is terrible for you. All things in moderation, and no matter what, everything will probably give you cancer on a long enough timeline, so just have a good life.
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