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Smoking and meat is one of the causes of cancer development
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Cancer incidence rates in 2008, which were collected by WHO, indicate that human lifestyle, especially smoking, consumption of large amounts of animal products are directly related to the development of cancer. 21 types of cancer tumors in 157 different countries were taken into account. There were about 20 years between the change in diet and the maximum incidence rates. Fish, meat, eggs are the products that were included in the index of animal products, and for lung cancer rates, factors such as air pollution and smoking were used.
As it turned out, more than 50% of cancer cases were associated with smoking and eating animal food. Some of the development of cancer was associated with excessive alcohol consumption. For men, smoking was a stronger factor provoking cancer, and for women, it was nutrition. A woman's diet is directly related to the development of breast cancer, since animal products can contribute to the development of malignant tumors of the breast, ovaries, as well as the prostate, thyroid and pancreas.
Animal food can provoke the development of cancer, since excessive consumption of such products activates the growth of cells in the body, both normal and pathological, since proteins contribute to the production of insulin-like growth factor. Experts used the population of Japan as an example and noted that several decades ago 10% of calories came from food of animal origin, while now this figure has increased to 20%, which, according to scientists, is associated with the increase in cancer in the country over the past 30 years. Currently, Japan is experiencing a fairly rapid rate of development of cancer, which previously affected mainly residents of Western countries. Also, no less dangerous factor in the development of cancerous tumors is alcohol consumption, experts associate it with the development of cancerous tumors in the intestines, and all kinds of drinks containing sweeteners - with prostate cancer, brain and pancreatic cancer.
This study points to a direct link between cancer risks and a diet high in meat. The president of the doctors' committee, Neil Barnard, believes that countries need to review their national nutrition policies. It is necessary to bring to people's awareness that they should eat mostly plant foods and reduce animal foods in their diets if possible.
Recently, research conducted by scientists has shown that a diet rich in tomatoes is very beneficial for women's health, since the high content of lycopene in tomatoes reduces the risk of developing breast cancer. However, British specialists are quite skeptical about this study, since lycopene is found in a large number of products, and it is a mistake to associate the consumption of tomatoes alone with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer.
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