Ham And Salami Increase Cancer Risk In Children
A recent study has revealed shocking news that parents who pack their children’s lunch boxes with ham and salami sandwiches may increase the risk of their kids getting cancer. The WCRF (World Cancer Research Fund) has proved this fact with evidence and says that processed meat including ham, salami, hotdog and bacon significantly raise the risk of dangerous bowel cancer. Experts at World Cancer Research Fund advise that parents can choose cheese (low-fat), fish, poultry or small amounts of lean meat as fillings for sandwiches instead of going for processed meats.
According to WCRF, fillers like salami and ham could develop unhealthy food habits in children and also increase the risk of cancer in later part of their life.
Speaking on this Marni Craze, Children’s Education Manager, WCRF, said that if children are given processed meat every day for their lunch, they will be eating a lot of it over the span of the school year. She added that it is better if children are thought to view processed meat as a rare treat.
Craze said that putting processed meat including ham or salami or any other high calorie snacks in kids’ sandwich may seem a convenient option especially for parents who have a tight schedule to prepare healthy lunch for their children. She explained that packed lunch is an essential part of any child’s diet that is pretty easy to prepare and does not require much effort or time to make it more nutritious.
Craze quoted an example that putting green salad as fillers in sandwich will effectively count towards 5 portions of vegetables and fruits that the children should consume every day. A glass of fruit juice may also add up to another portion if it is given instead of a fizzy drink. Speaking of the alternatives to processed meat she said pre-processed chicken, fish, hummus or low-fat cheese can be used as replacement.
Note : The WCRF recommends only about 70g of meat or 3 slices of bacon in a week.