Summer Cookout? Where's the Beef?

Summer is a great time of year for family and friends to gather for fun outdoor activities including back yard cook outs. But before you light up the grill, you may want to read about the dangers associated with barbecued meat. The 2009 Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research discussed how consuming barbecued meat was associated with a 60% higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Cooking meat at high temperatures creates carcinogenic compounds called "heterocyclic amines" which significantly raises the risk of all forms of cancer, especially pancreatic cancer. Consuming well-done meat can raise the risk by 70%.

Experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) are encouraging families to replace meat on the grill with vegetables. In fact, AICR's warning is based on a 2007 review of research conducted on animals showing that diets high in red and processed meats increase the risk of colorectal cancer. "This is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Cancer is the second leading cause of death, one of two men and one of three women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer, and one of four Americans will die of cancer. Likewise, consuming animal products is associated with increased risk of death from all causes. Skip the beef and protect your family from cancer by grilling vegetables and veggie-bean burgers this summer!  For delicious veggie burger recipe ideas, check out our Pinterest board here!  

Additional information:

(1) How Bad Can Just One Meal Be?

(2) What's in a hot dog?

(3) Industrial Carcinogens in Animal Fat

(4) Animal Fat Increases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

(5) Red and Processed Meat Products - No Safe Amount

(6) Carcinogens in Roasted Chicken?

(7) But I Could Never Give up Meat-Dairy!

(8) Dr. Carney's Cancer Pinterest Board

(9) Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption and All-Cause Mortality

(10) Meat Consumption = High Risk of Disease