Eating bacon, sausage, salami and other processed meats on a regular basis may increase your risk of developing colon cancer. Chemical changes in meat that occur during curing and smoking can promote cancer cells in the tissues of your colon and rectum. Along with other diet and lifestyle changes, avoiding processed meats may prevent this common form of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, or ACS.
Significance
Colorectal cancer affects the tissues of your large intestine, or colon, and the final segment of your colon, or rectum. Health factors such as obesity, a high-fat diet and a lack of exercise contribute to the risk of developing this disease. A diet high in processed meat may increase your risk of colon cancer by as much as 20 to 50 percent, according to a study published in the March 2007 issue of "Nutrition and Cancer." Raphaelle Santarelli and co-authors point to the high consumption of red meat and processed meat in affluent countries as a possible cause for the increased rate of colon cancer in these populations.
Meat Processing
According to Santarelli, the smoking and curing processes cause chemical changes in meat that may promote colon cancer. During the curing process, salt, sugar and sodium nitrite are added to meat to enhance flavor and prevent spoilage. The sodium and sodium nitrite in these foods may have carcinogenic effects. Processed meats contain more fat than many fresh meats, which may increase their carcinogenic potential. In addition, smoking and curing may increase the toxicity of heme iron, an animal-based form of iron that can be carcinogenic at high levels. According to the authors, changing the methods of meat processing to make these foods less carcinogenic may be a more culturally acceptable alternative than eliminating processed meats altogether, especially in countries where smoked or cured meats feature prominently in the traditional diet.
Lifestyle Factors
Eating processed meats frequently may be indirectly linked to other lifestyle factors that promote cancer. When combined with a sedentary lifestyle, eating large quantities of high-fat and high-calorie processed meats may increase your risk of developing colon cancer. People who eat bacon, ham or other processed meats regularly may also favor foods that are high in refined sugar and flour, which are dietary factors that promote carcinogenesis. A diet high in processed, refined foods and low in fruits and vegetables may be linked to other cancer-promoting habits, such as smoking and heavy alcohol use.
Prevention
Limiting or eliminating processed meat, replacing refined grain products with whole-grain breads and cereals, reducing your intake of sugar and avoiding coffee and alcohol may lower your risk of colon cancer. Losing weight, quitting smoking and finding ways to reduce stress may also strengthen your resistance to cancer. Because colon cancer in its early stages is curable, ACS recommends that you have regular colon cancer screenings after age 50 to detect pre-cancerous growths in your large intestine or rectum.
