Why does grilling meat cause cancer

Foil-wrapping fruits and veggies can protect them from high heat and the harmful effects of grilled meats. You can also wrap meat in foil to prevent fat from dripping into the hot coals. Sauces and marinades are often loaded with sugar. That can be especially problematic for people who are trying to follow a low-carb diet, says Dr. Acidic rubs and marinades, on the other hand, may help break down some of the muscle in the meat and reduce the number of HCAs on your plate.

If you're looking for an alternative to marinades, rub heart-healthy olive oil over the food and season it with pepper, spices, and herbs. It's not uncommon for folks to put meat on the grill and let it sit for 10 minutes before flipping and repeating the process. Unfortunately, that method produces detrimental char marks.

Do it that way and your grilled meal will be as healthy as the food itself, no matter which cooking method you choose. You can control the temperature better with gas grills. For best results, light the outside burners, not the center one. Insist on red meat?

Charring, burning or grilling meat, poultry and fish over high temperatures causes heterocyclic amines HCAs to form. Just 30 minutes can help. Cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs form in the smoke when fat from meat, poultry or fish drips onto the heat source. That PAH-filled smoke then coats your food. Curb exposure to PAHs by trimming fat from meat before grilling. Showcase fruits and veggies. No barbecue should be a meat-only affair.

Grilling fruits and veggies is a great way to load up on vitamins and nutrients that help your body fight off diseases like cancer. My Chart. Donate Today. For Physicians. Childhood Cancer Genomics. Study Findings. Metastatic Cancer Research.

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PAHs have been classified as carcinogens in animal studies, but similarly to HCAs, only very high doses, thousands of times higher than typical human consumption, were reported to increase cancer risk.

Research has also shown there are easy steps people can take when grilling to reduce the risk.