Cold Cuts Increase Bladder Cancer Risk

We have been told for a long time that cured deli meat or cold cuts such as sausages, bacon, salami etc are not good for us as they are high in sodium, and have a lot of fillers, hence are not as nutritionally beneficial as uncured meat.

cold cutsAnd now an American study has found that these cured meats may actually cause bladder cancer, those who eat cold cuts made from red meat are at a 29% higher risk of developing bladder cancer.

It was not the red meat itself, but the additives added to it to enhance the taste and the look of the meat that was responsible for the higher cancer risk.

The study found that Nitrate and nitrite, precursors to N-nitroso compounds (NOCs), are seen to induce tumors in many organs, including the bladder. This is to be seen in multiple animal species, not just humans.

The study examined over three hundred thousand women as well as men, over an 8 year period. 854 of those subjects studied, were seen to have cancer of the bladder and also a diet high in nitrates.