I.M.120 Helping you to BE YOUR BEST SELF

Let's start out by correcting the headline, red meat does NOT cause cancer.

The absurd, sensationalist interpretation of a scientific study has left many people feeling confused and uncomfortable.

It is true that certain types of meat when prepared in a certain manner seem to slightly increase the risk of colon cancer. The only cancer that was felt to be at increased risk was in fact colorectal cancer. The only type of meat that seems reliably correlated with it is processed meats such as; lunch meats, sausage, bacon, other artificially manipulated meats. Even those meats likely need to be taken in large quantities on a frequent basis in order to have a significant change in baseline risk.

The study was not capable of separating individuals who eat organic, non-GMO, grass fed animal meat versus those who eat "junk meat."

Now if you're someone who eats junk meat on a regular basis, the fact that your cancer risk may go up a couple of clicks probably doesn't rattle your cage. It is likely that pristine health is not your primary philosophical drive.

For the rest of you who are interested in staying healthy while still enjoying the occasional burger, take heart. To paraphrase the old saying "the dose makes the poison." The occasional pleasure of a juicy steak or a charcoal grilled burger will not shorten your lifespan.

I.M.120 recommendations;

1. By all means, enjoy meats of all sorts. Just buy quality, grass fed, organic, local sourced meats. Sure they cost more, but remember that large portions kill and the higher cost will actually help to limit the amount you eat. Eat quality, not quantity.

2. Take some leafy green vegetables along with your meat. There are substances in the leafy green vegetables that help to neutralize some of the potentially adverse chemical reactions from eating meat.

3. If you hate leafy green vegetables, look for a supplement with high doses of "Diindolymethan (DIM)" and  "Indole-3-Carbinol." These substances are felt to be the active ingredients in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli that help to lower cancer risk.

4. Maintain healthy gut bacteria. Taking a regular probiotic of high-quality is a good preventative health practice. Be wary of big box stores supplying cheap probiotics that often are "dead on arrival." Talk your healthcare consultant who should be knowledgeable in nutritional matters to help you identify a quality source for probiotics. (If your consultant is not up to speed, find some one who is).

5. Maintain a good antioxidant regimen. Eating stimulates free radicals. Large volume of eating correspondingly triggers large volumes of free radicals. Although this is a normal process, it makes sense to give your body the advantage of boosting it's antioxidant abilities by taking supplements such as mixed B vitamins, melatonin, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. Of course, a serving of organic blueberries are a welcome option. Once again this is a good time to consult with your healthcare provider regarding an optimal antioxidant regimens.

Follow these guidelines, then go out and fire up the grill!

To your best health,
Dr. Stephen Petteruti