The federal government of the United States passed dietary guidelines 2010 for health living in the country. Immediately after the guidelines were made official, some people were pleased with them while others launched multiple criticisms on the guide. A major criticism of the directives came from the cancer researchers. There was an argument that the guidelines go too far, but leave out the important aspect of discouraging people against excessive consumption of meat. The disappointment of the cancer researchers as per Katie McMahon from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network was that the guidelines did not discourage citizens from red and processed meat that brings high chances of cancer.
The criticism of the government not discouraging on the excess intake of red meat is a fair one because the more the meat consumed, the higher the chances of getting cancer. It is evident that high meat consumption rates cause cardiovascular diseases. The report seems to encourage consumption of red meat that is lean though the scientists still do not agree to this because there are high chances of (Evans) cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, and stroke that will make the society unhealthy.
In the developed countries such as the U.S, there are about thirty percent cases of cancer caused by dietary factors, meat consumption being one of them. According to research, vegetarians are forty percentages less likely to get cancer complications as compared to the flesh eaters. The reason meat consumption is associated with cancer is because it contains saturated fats, animal proteins, and some carcinogenic elements like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that develop when processing or cooking meat at high temperatures (Evans). PAHs formed when organic matter is burning have high chances of causing cancer. In addition, the fat content is high in meat, which increases the production of hormones that may result in diseases that are hormone-related such as prostate and breast cancer.
An example, for a kid of nine years, the foods should not be nutrient-based but should focus on the exact components taken. In doing so, the children will not intake components that are more likely to cause other health issues such as meat, which may result in cancer in early days.
A dietary guideline is important, but the federal government should ensure it covers all the health issues. If the consequences of meat are left out, there are high chances of people consuming it, and this will increase cases of cancer in the U.S.
Work Cited
Evans, Jeff. "High Meat Intake May raise Cancer Risk". Ob.Gyn. News 40.8 (2005): 54. Web.
