At the Senior Learning Institute®, we are committed to providing age-related advice and answering any questions about aging well at absolutely no cost. Speaking of questions, we recently had a Senior Learning Institute® guest inquire about red meats. He asked,
“I’m concerned about the information that the consumption of meat has some correlation with prostate cancer. How much, what kind of meat, and is it the same for protein in eggs, milk, etc.?”
Brooke Grubb MS, RD, LD, Food and Nutrition Supervisor of Aging Ahead, a trusted SLI resource answered,
“Thanks for the question. After reviewing various research, one study shows that increased consumption of red meat, particularly that of which has been grilled or cooked to “well done” or processed red meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, shows an increased risk of prostate cancer. White meat did not show the same effect. A second study found results that consumption of greater than 10 grams per day (about 1/3 of an ounce) of very well-done meat can lead to an increased risk of prostate cancer.
My short answer is red meat consumption is linked to prostate cancer risk. Most importantly how the meat is prepared also leads to increased risk.
My recommendation is to limit very well-done meat consumption (most likely found in grilled meats like hamburgers and hot dogs) to once per week. Red and white meat are acceptable as long as other cooking methods are used. Recommended protein intake is 0.8-1.0 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. Other environmental factors may contribute to this.
In addition, life happens, so if there are times you find yourself having this twice a week instead, that’s understandable. It appears from the research that white meat does not apply here as it is specifically the carcinogens found in how red meats are cooked that are the problem. Other protein sources, like eggs and dairy, also do not have this issue.”
If you have age-related questions, simply submit a question through our website, or browse through our library that’s full of helpful and reliable information. If you are in the St. Louis area, our resource page has a list of trusted Senior Learning Institute® resources.
In addition to our website, we host FREE monthly seminars that are packed full of great information and have a panel of senior experts on-site to answer any questions you may have. Our seminars are hosted in two convenient locations, Chesterfield and Sunset Hills. You can register by clicking HERE.
If you’d like to learn more about our trusted resource, Aging Ahead, you can visit their website HERE.
As always, we are dedicated to providing you with unbiased information and trusted resources to help you make even smarter decisions at absolutely no cost!