New research funded by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, found that eating meat is protective against cancer. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.
The study itself states,
Observational studies like this one cannot prove cause and effect.
However, some studies have proven the link between red meat consumption and cancer risk.
A study from the University of California, San Francisco, on men with prostate cancer showed that eating a mostly plant-based diet reduced the risk of cancer progression by 47% when compared to meat eaters.
There is more evidence proving that even among men with high genetic risk, lifestyle choices can profoundly influence outcomes. A study in European Urology, showed that men who practiced healthy lifestyle habits, including regular physical activity, healthy weight, no smoking, and a plant-focused diet low in processed meat, had a 46% lower risk of lethal prostate cancer compared to those who did not practice healthy habits. Similarly, a JAMA Oncology (2023) analysis found that lifestyle adherence was associated with a 60% reduction in prostate cancer–specific mortality, underscoring the power of modifiable factors alongside genetic risk factors.
In April 2025, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International released a major new report on Dietary and Lifestyle Patterns (DLPs) and their role in cancer prevention. One of the reasons this is so important is that the team of INDEPENDENT experts reviewed the global evidence for dietary and lifestyle patterns for two of the most common types of cancer, colorectal and breast cancer. The strong evidence they found between diet and lifestyle was used to develop the latest recommendations.
The recommendations
The experts analyzed 86 studies and, using this evidence, they recommended the following DLPs for reducing the risk of colorectal cancer:
- Maintaining a healthy weight and regular physical activity
- Prioritizing fruit and vegetables, as well as fibre-containing foods
- Consuming coffee, as well as food and beverages that contain calcium
- Reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
- Avoiding or reducing alcohol consumption
- Avoiding smoking
- Avoiding processed meats
To reduce the incidence and mortality of breast cancer, the panel analyzed 84 research publications and recommended the following DLPs:
- Maintaining a healthy weight and regular physical activity
- Prioritizing fruit and vegetables and fibre-containing foods
- Lowering consumption of red and processed meat
- Lowering consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
- Avoiding alcohol
- Avoid smoking
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies red meat as a Group 2A carcinogen, meaning that studies have shown a positive association between eating red meat and developing colorectal cancer. WHO classifies processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen. This means there is sufficient evidence to prove that processed meats cause cancer.
As a quick refresher, examples of red meat include: beef, veal, lamb, mutton, pork, goat and venison. It does not include chicken, turkey, goose, duck, or rabbit.
Processed meats include any meat that has been preserved by smoking, curing, salting or with preservatives. For example, sausages, ham, bacon, salami, pate, and canned meat like corned beef. It also includes sliced lunch meat made from white meat, such as chicken and turkey.
Other reasons to avoid meat
Reducing the risk of cancer is a good one, but there are more reasons to limit or eliminate meat from your diet. First, there are better protein choices.
Second, there is the environmental cost.
Third, the ethical reasons to avoid eating meat.
And, in general, less animal protein is better for our health.
Correlation ⍯ Causation
Not that long ago, it was thought that being overweight reduced your mortality risk as you got older. Unfortunately, what was not taken into account were the unhealthy reasons why people could be thin. Please remember that thin is not the same as healthy. People with low body weight may smoke, struggle with drug addiction, or have anorexia. This is similar to the results in the meat-eating could reduce cancer study.
There are also studies about the new weight loss drugs that cut the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. But, it may not be the drug that reduces the risk; it could be the fact that being overweight is a health risk and losing weight reduces that risk.
Correlation is not causation.
There are recommendations for body weight, because we have the evidence that being too thin or having excess body fat are both health risks.
We also have compelling evidence that reducing our consumption of animal protein is better for us and for the environment.
We have evidence that eating a plant-focused diet reduces the risk of cancer. A meta-analysis of 686,691 participants revealed that vegetarian diets were associated with a 23% reduced risk of gastrointestinal cancers. Vegans have lower risks of prostate and breast cancer. Meat eaters also have more bacteria in their gut microbiome that are linked to colon cancer.
The World Cancer Research Fund/AICR Continuous Update Project consistently shows that whole dietary patterns emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes are protective across multiple cancers. A recent NHANES analysis (Nutrients, 2024) also proved that individuals with higher-quality diets and lower inflammatory biomarker levels had significantly lower risk of all types of cancer, reinforcing the role of lifestyle habits in reducing systemic inflammation and supporting cancer prevention.
Regardless of your current dietary habits, incorporating more vegetables and fewer meats is a healthy choice.
Change your mind, change your health,
Shayla
Environmental risks and Mortality from M.A. Clark, M. Springmann, J. Hill, & D. Tilman, Multiple health and environmental impacts of foods, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 116 (46) 23357-23362, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1906908116.
Plant-Based Diets and Prostate Cancer https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/05/427571/prostate-cancer-study-more-health-benefits-plant-based-diet
World Cancer Research Fund https://www.wcrf.org/
American Institute of Cancer Research https://www.aicr.org/
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