In the
news last week we heard about the Harvard School of Medicine epidemiology study
in which the scientists reported that daily consumption of red
meat—particularly the kind you might like to grill—may significantly increase
your risk of premature death. Of course,
when folks hear “red meat”, they immediately make associations to the Atkins
Diet,which we all know is simply Internet lore. The Atkins Diet advocates for a
balanced diet consisting of a healthy mix of proteins, vegetables, low-glycemic
fruits, and good fats. Atkins is not a “red meat” diet–the plan
emphasizes a balanced and healthy way of eating for life. However, having said that, we simply can't come to the conclusions the media has been spinning; slight associations simply does not equate to causality.
After
30 years of millions of Americans following Atkins, there has never been any
association found to exist between cancer and the well-researched and
scientifically studied medical/nutritional principles behind the Atkins
philosophy. Quite to the contrary, many of the nutritional principles and
guidelines upon which the Atkins approach is based may actually work
preventatively with regard to many types of cancer.
Studies
to date have found no association for consumption of fresh meats, fish, cheese,
and eggs. However there have been
slight trends in risk for consumption of cured and blackened meat, as well as
processed meats.
Keep in mind however, that an individual can lower his/her risk of cancer when body mass index is normal.The association between the higher risk of colon cancer and high intake of meat ceases to exist when body mass index is adjusted for.
In fact, it has been consistently noted that
overweight and obesity increases the risk of cancers of the breast
(postmenopausal), endometrial (the lining of the uterus), colon, kidney, and
esophagus. Avoiding weight gain can lower the risk of cancers of the breast
(postmenopausal), endometrium, colon,
kidney, and esophagus.
Unquestionably,
all vegetables and low glycemic fruits supply the phytochemicals and antioxidants that are
protective for all diseases, especially cancer. However, gram for gram,
vegetables yield a much higher antioxidant score than fruits do, without the
high sugar content (glycemic load) of most fruits. Glycemic load is the amount of carbohydrate
in a food that raises the blood glucose at a rapid rate, provoking an excessive
insulin response.
Previous
research has also shown that a high glycemic load presents risk factors for
obesity, which is, in and of itself, another risk factor for cancer. Several studies presented to date also
identified insulin, insulin-like growth factors and high GI carbohydrates as
risk factors.
The
bottom line? If you are following Atkins, as it is laid out in The New Atkins for a New You, you are consuming plenty of
fresh vegetables (and eventually low glycemc fruits), with equal opportunity given to
poultry, fish, red meat and various other protein sources. This emphasis on
whole foods (vs. packaged or overly processed foods ) is a solid prescription for good health.