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(www.healthcastle.com) A new ad campaign from the Cancer Project is calling for a ban on serving processed meats in schools nationwide. The campaign was prompted by a report issued last year by the American institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research fund that found a direct link between eating processed meat and developing certain kinds of cancer. |
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 Processed Meat and Cancer
The study concluded that eating a 50-gram serving is approximately the same size as a hot dog, a product that many children eat on a daily basis! The Cancer Project is focusing its attention on trying to reform the federal Child Nutrition Act, as it is up for renewal in 2009. This program establishes the type of foods that are served in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
Processed Meat and Food Borne Illness
However, cancer isn't the only concern for those who eat processed meat. Recently a listeria outbreak in Canada has claimed the lives of eight individuals, with seven more deaths under investigation. Listeria, one form of food poisoning, can appear in processed meats that do not seem spoiled in any way. Pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system are most susceptible to listeria. |
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| Try the following healthier ways to enjoy meat: Choose fish, poultry, or beans as an alternative. Select meat with leaner cuts. For beef, choose eye of round, top round roast, top sirloin and flank; for pork, choose tenderloin and loin chops. Watch your portions! One serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards. Prepare meat with cooking methods that use less oil such as baking, broiling or poaching. Marinade meat before grilling. |
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What is Processed Meat?
Any meats that are salted, cured, smoked or preserved with nitrate are considered processed meats. They are usually high in fats and salt, which means they are not heart-friendly, either. All of the following are considered processed meats:
Bacon
Sausage
Ham
Hot Dogs
Salami
Lunch Meat
Other cured meats |
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Bottom Line
Due to the increased risk of cancer and of contracting listeria, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with a weakened immune system should never eat processed meat. Even if you do not fall into one of these categories, you should avoid processed meats if you can. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommended in its 2007 report that you should avoid processed meats at all costs.
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Processed Meats: Selecting the Least Worst |
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For many, lunch meat is a regular ingredient in bagged lunches. It's admirable to pack a lunch for ourselves and our family members rather than eating out for every lunch, but are we trading nutritional value for the convenience of processed luncheon meats?
Processed Meat: A Closer Look
Processed food means just that: the food has been subject to a special process or treatment, altering the food from its natural state. Most luncheon meats contain nitrites and nitrates, which are preservatives, coloring , and flavoring additives, and can lead to the formation of nitrosamine some of which are carcinogenic. In 2007, a study of processed meat intake in relation to cancer risk concluded that individuals in the highest group of processed meat intake had an elevated risk for colorectal and lung cancers.
Processed Luncheon Meat: Quick Comparison
Let's take a look at some of the popular packaged processed lunch meats we often layer between our sandwich bread.
The following table compares the nutritional values of some processed meats:
|
Luncheon meat
{3oz serving} |
Calories
{Kcal} |
Total Fat
{g} |
Sodium
{mg} |
|
Beef,Slow Roasted,95%fat free
{Oscar Mayer's} |
100 |
4.2 |
867 |
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Bologna,Beef |
267 |
24.0 |
919 |
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Chicken Breast,97%fat free,oven roasted
{oscar mayer's} |
90 |
2.2 |
1059 |
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Chicken Breast, Oven Roasted
{oscar mayer's} |
92 |
2.6 |
1060 |
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Corned Beef, Saval, Brisket |
106 |
3.0 |
759 |
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Honey Ham |
137 |
6.8 |
714 |
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Black Forest Ham |
106 |
3.8 |
440 |
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Ham, Extra Lean 5%fat |
94 |
2.5 |
941 |
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Pepperoni |
396 |
34.3 |
1521 |
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Salami, Cold Cuts, Hard
{oscar mayer's} |
315 |
25.2 |
1607 |
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Smoked Turkey Breast
{oscar mayer's} |
90 |
1.5 |
940 | Tuna, Canned in Water 109 2.6 321 |
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The Bottom Line
Compared to their fresh, whole-cut meat counterparts, processed meats are typically higher in sodium, calories, and fats. Pepperoni, salami, and bologna are among the highest in sodium and fat content.
Processed meats are not the only quick and easy solutions for lunchtime ingredients.Try using leftover slices of roast beef, turkey, or chicken breast from your dinner table for a healthier alternative to processed lunch meat. Tuna, canned in water, is another healthier option for your bagged lunch and offers reduced sodium and fat content. If you enjoy the convenience of processed lunch meats, look for those with lower sodium and fat content, such as turkey and chicken breast.
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HEALTHY TIPS