Scientists just pinpointed link between red meat and cancer

Eating red meat has long been linked to cancer, and researchers now understand why.

Scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno, have identified a gene in certain animals — including cows and some types of fish — that links them to the deadly disease.

The gene, called CMAH, can cause a certain type of sugar to form in the animals. That sugar then triggers an inflammatory response when you eat red meat. The inflammation then increases the risk of tumors and cardiovascular disease.

Other research has linked this dangerous sugar to cancer, but this most recent report,published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, is the first to identify the animals with the CMAH gene that also have this sugar.

The researchers hope their findings will spur others to look into what animal products contain the cancerous sugar. In the meantime, if you’re concerned about your cancer risk, swap out red meat for poultry: Chicken, turkey and duck are all free of the CMAH gene.

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