‘Frozen meat, grilled BBQs pose cancer risk’
Minced meat kebab is seen being cooked on a barbecue as restaurant customers have dinner in Islamabad, Pakistan July 24, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS
Health experts on Sunday urged the public to continue following the recommendations of meat consumption to three portions a week and avoid too many barbecues as consuming too much-processed meat can increase the risk of bowel cancer in humans.
“There has been a jump in the number of cases of gastric infections and diarrhoea due to binge eating at restaurants and improper handling of food after Eidul Azha,” senior specialist of liver diseases & gastroenterologist, Dr Rabia Tariq, said in an interview to a news channel.
“Avoiding foods that are too oily and spicy prevent abdominal burning and decrease heartburn issues. “Prolonged frozen meat damages gums and increases the risk of cancer,” she said.
Cooking meat at high temperatures produces cancer-causing chemicals, she said, thus one should avoid the prolonged cooking time, especially at high temperatures.
She said the chronic patients of hepatitis B and C are medically advised not to eat greater quantities of meat. The patients suffering from complaints of peptic or duodenal ulcers should also consume a limited quantity of meat on Eid days to avoid serious complications, she advised.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2023.