Grilled Meats Linked to Increased Risk for Pancreatic Cancer
by Susan on 05/22/09 at 8:37 am
Beef and Corn on a Charcoal BBQ grill
The following information comes at a perfect time, as we head toward Memorial Day and the beginning of the summer grilling season. If you’re breaking out the barbecue or firing up the gas grill this weekend, here is some advice to chew on from the Duke University School of Medicine. Nutrition researchers from their School of Nursing discovered that people who ate well-done meat were 60 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, one of the most difficult cancers to detect and treat. The studies show that a relationship exists between eating well-done, grilled meats and certain cancers – in this case, pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is the organ responsible for producing digestive enzymes and insulin, and is essential for getting nutrients into your system and maintaining blood sugar levels.
It isn’t just steak that contributes to this risk. Any meat made of muscle protein can generate a cancer-causing reaction when it comes in contact with a hot grill, so chicken, pork and fish are no longer considered safe alternatives.
“When you apply high temperatures to any grilled meat, it breaks down the muscle proteins and creates a cancer-causing substance which can damage our DNA and genetic material,” explains Denise Snyder, a nutrition researcher from the Duke University School of Nursing. “That can jump-start the cancer development process.”
Some Timely Tips for Healthier Grilling
Snyder gave some timely tips to help minimize risks for the Memorial Day holiday, when cookouts and barbecues are on everyone’s menu. Here are some cooking suggestions – not just for this weekend, but for a lifetime.
- Trim fats from meat before cooking
- Marinate your meats prior to grilling, as marinade reduces the formation of cancer-causing agents
- Line your grill with foil poked with holes to allow the fat to drip down. That, and avoiding smoke flare-ups, which also contain cancer-causing substances that coat the meat, will lessen your exposure
- Keep your grill rack as high as possible to keep far from the heat
- Choose thinner and leaner cuts of meat, since they’ll take less time on the grill
- Consider grilling lots of fruits and vegetables along with your meat. Pineapple, mushrooms, zucchini, peaches, peppers, even Romaine lettuce hearts, taste great and don’t have the risks that come with beef, pork, chicken and fish
- Microwave your food first, then throw it on the grill for the last few minutes of cooking
- Use the lowest temperature to cook your food thoroughly
- Shorten the grill time by using a meat thermometer and removing the meat when it reaches the correct temperature
- Make kabobs. They require less cooking time
- Flip food frequently
- Finally, avoid eating processed meats of any kind, whether they’re grilled or not. Luncheon meat, hot dogs, sausage and bacon have all been shown to increase cancer risk
A personal note
It is interesting that this study specifically mentions pancreatic cancer, a particularly virulent and deadly cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In 2009, approximately 38,000 Americans will be diagnosed with this disease and about 35,000 will die from it. Actor Patrick Swayze is currently battling pancreatic cancer. It has killed “Dream Team” coach Chuck Daly, opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, “Last Lecture” professor Randy Pausch, actor Michael Landon, several members of former President Jimmy Carter’s family and countless other notable and not-so-notable people, including my father. So to have this particular study find conclusive evidence linking heavily grilled meat to pancreatic cancer is gratifying, since it means this little-known disease is receiving more recognition. That will hopefully encourage more funding for early detection and a cure. (Currently, the only cure for pancreatic cancer is a Whipple procedure, and only 5 percent of those diagnosed with PC are eligible for this complicated surgery, which totally reroutes the digestive system.)
For more information on pancreatic cancer, contact the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Have a very safe Memorial Day weekend!
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