Cured Foods Linked to Childhood Leukemia Cancer

Think twice before you allow your child to grab that bacon in the morning or a hot dog at the ballpark. According to new study, children that eat cured meats may have a heightened risk of childhood leukemia and those that eat vegetables and soy based products are more protected from the deadly cancer. The new study found a link between consuming smoked or cured meat and fish more than once a week would pose an increased risk of acute leukemia.

The controlled test was conducted in Taiwan and looked at 515 individuals who ranged in age from 2 to 20-years-old. The information was gathered over a period from 1997 to 2005. According to Professor of Medicine David C. Christian, who lead the research at Harvard, the culprit is most likely the nitrites adding during the curing and smoking process which results in the cancer. These chemicals transform into N-nitroso compounds which are known carcinogens in the acidic stomach.

These are some very active compounds in your body, said Christiani. Have you ever heard of the hot-dog headache? Thats what you get after eating too many hotdogs.

These results need to be confirmed in other studies before doctors can make strong recommendations, he said. We don't want the cured meat and sausage industry on our tails.

Researchers will need to gather more long term studies before any 'recommendations' are put out.

Leukemia is the most important childhood cancer, said Liu. I'm concerned about the children, and what factors are associated with the disease.

In the meantime, you may want to keep your children and yourself away from foods such as; bacon, ham, hot dogs, dried salted duck, salted fish, sausage, and other cured and smoked meats.