People who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats have a higher risk of several types of cancer, including lung and colorectal cancer.
The researchers used data from a large US diet and health study, which started in 1995 and involves nearly half a million men and women aged 50-71.
The people in the top 20% of eating processed meat had a 16% higher risk of lung cancer and a 20% higher risk of bowel cancer.
Furthermore, red meat intake was associated with an elevated risk for cancers of the esophagus and liver, the researchers found.
Red meat was defined as all types of beef, pork and lamb. Processed meats included bacon, red meat and poultry sausage, luncheon meats, cold cuts, ham and most types of hot dogs including turkey dogs.
The research by the US National Cancer Institute is published in the latest issue of PLoS Medicine.
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