Science behind the headlines.

The one thing that drives me crazy is how media and internet news sites continually bungle the explanation of medical research to the public. One recent and very glaring example of this is the MEAT CAUSES CANCER news which seems to be confusing to many.

When I created the Endothelial Health Program for Jeff, I wrote that consumption of processed meats like sausage, bacon and hot dogs and red meat were not recommended for endothelial health, and to watch consumption.   Consumption of processed meats has been linked to MS progression, as well as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

We want a strong and healthy endothelial cell layer in our blood and lymph vessels, to allow for healthy blood flow, cerebral perfusion and a functioning immune system.  Here's more on your endothelium, for those new to this science:  http://ccsviinms.blogspot.com/2015/10/endo-what.html

Some chemical compounds damage this cellular layer and create disease.  One such damaging compound is N-nitroso.  Processed meats and red meat contain sodium nitrate and heme (iron from blood) which is then converted in our gut to N-nitroso.  This is the same reason why these foods are considered carcinogenic.  N-nitroso causes DNA alkylation and mutation of cells.   We find this dangerous compound in cigarette smoke, too.  It's not the meat, or the nitrates or the processing which are inherently bad, it's how our gut processes these foods.
http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/17/3/515
http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/128/6/1461

Want to learn more about which foods you eat will create the most N-nitroso?  Here's a published database from Baylor University with list with quantification of dietary amounts. Sausage, lunch meats, smoked meats and bacon are highest on the scale.
http://www.bezpecnostpotravin.cz/userfiles/file/kvasnickova2/n-nitroso_database.pdf

If you think of our bodies as elegant machines which need a specialized fuel in order to run most efficiently, you can understand this rationale.  We want to eat foods which encourage endothelially derived nitric oxide (eNOS), our premium grade fuel--like fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, omega 3 fats.  But eating too much glucose, processed foods and transfats is like pouring sugar into the gas tank.  It changes the chemical composition of your fuel, and your engine won't run.

Here's more on this nasty chemical compound, N nitroso--which is found in some plastics, cigarette smoke, and yes....bacon.  Try to limit your exposure to it.
http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/files/nnitrosofaq.pdf

Here's an explanation of how red meat metabolizes into N-Nitroso.  It's the blood which gives red meat its color, and its risk.
Red meat contains more iron heme than white meat. The iron is easily nitrosylated and this facilitates the formation of endogenous nitroso-compounds (NOCs; Joosen et al., 2010). Red meat intake shows indeed a dose–response relation with NOCs formation, whereas there is no such relation for white meat. NOCs are mutagenic: induce nitrosylation and DNA damage. Processed (nitrite-preserved) red meat increases the risk. Heterocyclic amines are formed during cooking of meat at high temperatures, but this is not specific for red meat (Joosen et al., 2010).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4342365/

This DOES NOT mean eating meat causes cancer.  It means eating some meats (red and processed) raises your levels of bad fuel,  N-nitroso, which can cause disease.  We do not know how much N-nitroso it takes to create disease states, but we know there is a link, so watch your consumption.  Make sense?  Good!

Here's the complete Endothelial Health Program.
http://ccsvi.org/index.php/helping-myself/endothelial-health
Guaranteed to get you running on the best endothelially derived nitric oxide (eNOS) fuel.  Premium grade nitric oxide.  Now, share this knowledge with your friends-- vegetarian and carnivores alike.

Be well!
Joan