Intestinal health: The less meat, the better - according to a biochemist

Created: 05/07/2022, 16:00

By: Judith Brown

Vegetarians live longer and have a lower risk of colon cancer.

Biochemist Sarah Schwitalla therefore recommends a meat-free diet.

Munich – Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the European Union (EU) after lung cancer and is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide.

In Germany, around 26,710 women and 33,920 men were diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018.

In addition to the risk factors tobacco consumption and obesity, lack of exercise and diet also influence the risk of tumors.

In an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin", the biochemist Sarah Schwitalla explained that 70 percent of all colon cancers could be avoided through a healthy diet.

Meat consumption is a key factor here.

Intestinal health: The less meat, the better - according to a biochemist

Meat consumption increases the risk of chronic inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

(Iconic image) © Jakub Porzycki/IMAGO

"In addition to the brain and spinal cord, the intestine is the most important nerve network in our body, with more than 100 million nerve cells," says Schwitalla.

It is therefore all the more important to pay attention to a healthy diet.

For the biochemist, meat consumption plays a decisive role.

Because according to Schwitalla, animal foods, especially meat, increase our risk of colon cancer.

“Meat contains a lot of protein, from which metabolic products are produced that can trigger mutations.

Meat consumption also increases the risk of chronic inflammatory bowel disease,” says the scientist.

Red meat is particularly harmful, but chicken also has the same effect.

She even recommends avoiding meat altogether: “The rule for the intestines is: the less, the better.

Preferably none at all.” According to the results of studies, people who eat vegetarian food have the lowest risk of colon cancer, according to the expert.

They also live the longest and suffer the least from digestive disorders.

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Colorectal cancer: lower risk through less sugar and fat

Of course, sugar and fat can also damage the intestines.

According to Schwitalla, it depends on the type and amount of sugar.

"Concentrated sugar from industrial production, such as that found in soft drinks, increases the risk of colon cancer." Fructose from fresh fruit, on the other hand, can even reduce the risk of colon cancer by up to half.

A low-fat diet also lowers the risk.

Animal and industrially produced fats are particularly dangerous because they are processed into metabolic products and trigger diseases.

Unlike the healthy fats found in nuts and avocados, which are more likely to prevent disease.

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In addition, additives in industrially produced foods usually cause stress in the intestines.

For example, emulsifiers can disrupt the intestinal barrier and promote chronic inflammatory diseases.

According to Schwitalla, we should also be more economical with salt.

Because a high salt content promotes irritable bowel syndrome and bloating, as well as cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure.

The biggest nutritional sin for the intestines is also when we eat too little unprocessed plant-based foods such as fruit, wholemeal bread and legumes.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.