Processed meat scare makes seafood expensive

THE recent World Health Organization (WHO) findings that say processed meat – bacon, sausages, and ham – do cause colon cancer had immediately set off a firestorm of criticisms against the UN body and also generated a worldwide uproar among meat eaters.

Does that mean I can no longer enjoy my hotdog, asked one, while others said what other food alternatives could substitute for that most American of breakfast fares, the crispy bacon.

I can predict with utmost uncertainty that prices of fish and other marine products would rise to stratospheric levels as meat-eaters turn to consuming the produce of the sea.

However, once the scare is forgotten, these individuals would go back to eating processed meat again.

The medical community has been warning Americans for years that they are the most obese people in the world for consuming large amounts of processed food.

This did not stop them from patronizing the fast-food outlets. This is especially true in the Philippines, where one can get a decent meal in a clean surrounding for less than 100.

WHO said 50g of processed meat a day, or less than two slices of bacon, increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18 percent.

WHO stressed that meat also had health benefits. It contains a large amount of protein that improves the overall health and well-being of one’s body.

Meat is also rich in iron, zinc, and selenium that help in forming hemoglobin that transports oxygen to different parts of your body, zinc helps in tissue formation and metabolism, while selenium breaks down the fat and chemicals in the body.

Meat is also a major source of vitamins A, B, and D for good vision, stronger teeth and bones and good mental health.

Colon, rectal, and colorectal means the same cancer in the colon or the rectum.

In the Philippines, colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers (behind cancers of the lung, breast, liver, cervix, and leukemia). Colorectal cancer ranks 6th overall (5th leading cancer among men and 7th among women).

The Philippine Cancer society estimates 8,000 new colorectal cancer cases to affect Filipinos.