Beware! Eating over 300g of chicken and eggs in a week can kill you slowly. In a recent study, experts have warned that this habit could lead to gastrointestinal cancer.
Read on to know how.
Gastrointestinal Cancer Warning: What is the cleanest source of protein that you can add to your daily diet? Most of us will either say chicken or eggs, isn’t it? Yes, you are right! Chicken and eggs are the most comforting protein sources for many of us. However, researchers have found a disturbing link between eating over 300 grams of chicken and eggs per week and an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers, including those of the stomach and intestines.
According to a new study by the National Institute of Gastroenterology, eating chicken or eggs more than 300 grams a week can heighten the risk of gastric cancer. The research, published in the journal Nutrients, had over 4,000 participants who were asked to share details about their demographic background, general health, lifestyle habits, and personal history.
How Does Eating Chicken Cause Cancer?
in the recent study, researchers stated that they have found a clear connection between over consumption of chicken and eggs with higher risk of developing a serious form of cancer, gastrointestinal cancer. The study also quoted that eating too much poultry products was linked to a 27 per cent higher risk of death compared to eating less than 100g – with the risk becoming higher with the amount that is consumed.
Before we get into understanding how eating poultry is related to the formation of cancer cells within the stomach, let’s understand what this cancer is all about.
What Is Gastrointestinal Cancer and Why Is It So Dangerous?
Gastrointestinal cancer, also known as GI cancers, mainly refers to the formation of malignant tumours inside the stomach, intestine, colon, and rectum — affecting the digestive system from the core. These forms of cancer are often aggressive and become really hard to detect in their initial stages, making it difficult for the treatment processes to save lives.
Some of the unusual symptoms associated with Gastrointestinal cancers are unusual abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness and fatigue, and a significant presence of blood in the stool — these signs usually appear when the disease has already progressed.
Talking about the causes or the risk factors associated with Gastrointestinal cancer, experts have stated that poor diet, genetic predisposition, infections, and lifestyle habits are the main contributors.
Now let’s decode the connection between the two – consuming over 300g of chicken and eggs a week and the higher risk of developing GI cancers.
Gastrointestinal Cancer: How Does Eating Chicken Cause Cancer?
The study, which tracked the eating habits of thousands of people, concluded that regular consumption of poultry in such quantities could substantially elevate the risk of gastrointestinal cancer, as well as increase the risk of early death from all causes. But how are these two connected?
“While it is not entirely clear why consuming this amount of chicken increases the risk, the researchers do have some theories. They say overcooking chicken creates high levels of mutagens chemical agents that lead to mutations, which are changes in an organism’s DNA. These changes can lead to a variety of effects, from silent mutations in non-functional DNA regions to lethal mutations in actively transcribed regions, according to Biology Online. Mutagens can be physical, chemical, or biological in origin.
Researchers also suggest that the way chickens are raised and fed could contribute to the risk of cancer. In many studies, eating chicken exposes humans to carcinogenic pesticides and hormones that are present in their feed,” — the study quoted.
Key takeaway – Overconsumption of poultry (chicken and eggs), especially those which are cooked at high temperatures like grilled or fried form, can produce harmful chemicals like HCAs and PAHs in the items – when one consume this it can damage their gut cells and raise the risk of gastrointestinal cancers. So what should one be doing? Experts say – Moderation is key. Eat poultry but not more than 300grams in a week.