5.Avoid red and processed meats. Limiting or avoiding red meat will not only reduce your risk of developing cancers of the colon and rectum, but also helps prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes, many studies have determined.
Research by the Harvard School of Public Health has found, for instance, that regular consumption of processed meats, such as sausages and cold cuts, will shorten your life. But PCRM notes that an occasional steak, burger or hotdog isn’t going to significantly raise your health risks.
PCRM’s conclusion: “Avoiding red and processed meat may reduce the risk of cancers of the colon and rectum … Red meat is a concentrated source of protein, iron and zinc. However, adequate intakes of these nutrients can easily be obtained in varied plant-based diets.”
